Herpetology - EXAM 2

Which of the following are extant orders of non-avian reptiles?

- Rhynchocephalia

- Squamata

- Testudines

- Crocodylia

2 multiple choice options

Where is marine reptile diversity greatest?

From SE Asia to N Australia

3 multiple choice options

How many different native families of squamates are found in California?

15

3 multiple choice options

The amniotic egg requires much less water than fish or amphibian eggs do and has reduced reptiles' dependence on free water.

True

What are the 3 membranes in the amniotic egg?

allantois, chorion, amnion

Which of the following statements are true regarding reptile eggs as compared to amphibian eggs?

- They tend to have larger eggs relative to their body size

- They tend to have fewer eggs relative to their body size

- They require internal fertilization

- They have a mineralized shell

2 multiple choice options

Reptiles will lay their eggs in a variety of nests. What general nest conditions are they seeking for their eggs?

- Substrate that will allow adequate gas exchange

- Somewhere with high, stable humidity

- Somewhere with moderate, stable temperature

1 multiple choice option

Reproductive timing in reptiles:

Tropical zone reptiles tend to reproduce ______________________.

Temperate zone reptiles tend to reproduce _____________________.

year round, seasonally

3 multiple choice options

All crocodilians and tuatara, and most squamates and turtles lay eggs. Some squamates and turtles give live birth.

False

How many times is live birth estimated to have independently evolved within squamates?

114

3 multiple choice options

Turtles and squamates utilize both genetic (GSD) and temperature-dependent (TSD) sex determination, while crocodilians and tuatara only utilize temperature-dependent (TSD) sex determination.

True

Which of the following statements are true regarding beta-keratin in reptilian integument?

- Reptiles are the only vertebrates that have beta-keratin

- It is a hard and brittle compound

- It is layered with flexible alpha-keratin in the scales

- The surface of scales is beta-keratin

- In most of the hard-shelled turtles the scutes and sutures contain only beta-keratin

1 multiple choice option

Lipids in reptilian skin minimize evaporative water loss and allow reptiles to be diurnal and active thermoregulators.

True

Larger skin glands of reptiles tend to be concentrated in one or a few regions of body, and some of them produce toxic skin secretions for defense.

False

All reptiles exclusively excrete their nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid.

False

What types of reptiles tend to be thermoconformers?

- Aquatic species

- Nocturnal species

- Species that inhabit the understory of dense forests

1 multiple choice option

Reptiles that are homeotherms use behavioral thermoregulation to maintain a relatively constant body temperature, one at which their bodies enzymatic reactions are best adapted to function.

True

By changing shape, orientation to the sun, and posture of their bodies, reptiles can alter the amount of solar energy absorbed by approximately what amount?

6x

3 multiple choice options

Many desert lizards have granular (matte) dorsal scales to absorb direct solar infrared radiation when basking, and smooth shiny ventral scales to reflect infrared radiation from the substrate so they don't overheat.

True

Evaporative water loss plays a large role in the behavioral thermoregulation of most reptiles.

False

Conduction, or heat exchange with the substrate, plays a large role in heat exchange and behavioral thermoregulation in most reptiles.

True

Which of the following statements are true regarding reptilian metabolism?

- There is no relationship between metabolic rate and body size

- Metabolic rate has a positive, linear relationship with temperature

- Reptiles can incorporate a large portion of their food into their own tissues because they are not regulating their body temperature metabolically

- Their metabolism cannot sustain intense physical activity as long as endotherms can

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) Most reptiles do not live long enough to reach "full size" due to their indeterminate growth.

True

Which of the following definitions best describe cranial kinesis?

The movement of skull bones relative to one another

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following ecological groups of reptiles tend to have more highly kinetic skulls?

- Species that eat their prey whole

- Aquatic suction feeders

- Species that eat awkward shaped prey

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) Streptostyly is an important adaptation of Lepidosaurs because it fixes the quadrate in place to stiffen their jaw for maximum bite force.

False

Which of the following statements are true regarding acrodont dentition in Lepidosaurs?

- There is no tooth replacement

- Tooth loss is uncommon

- The teeth are fused to the jaw bones

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) Lizards can loose and regrow their tails only if the break happens cleanly between two caudal vertebrae.

True

Which ecological types of lizards tend to loose caudal vertebrae fracture planes, and the ability to regrow their tails?

- Arboreal species with prehensile tails

- Aquatic species that swim with their tails

- Sprinter lizards that exhibit bipedal running

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) A re-grown lizard tail may look slightly different in color and pattern, but it has the same musculoskeletal structure as the original tail.

False

(T/F) Lizards tend to shed their outermost skin layer in many pieces and then eat it to retain lipids, minerals, and a any caloric value.

True

(T/F) The skin layer of Lepidosaurs that is shed is known as the stratum germinativum.

False

Which of the following are reasons that contribute to the slower skin healing properties of reptiles when compared to mammals?

- Stiffer skin that doesn't stretch

- Healing cells only act from margin of injury

- Slower metabolism

- Less ability to fight off infections

- Healing partially dependent on skin shedding cycles which take many weeks

1 multiple choice option

The parietal eye features a primitive lens and retina that detect light intensity and UV changes. These signals regulate which of the following aspects of Lepidosaur biology?

- Basking behavior

- Circadian rhythms

- Hormone production

1 multiple choice option

Which of the following are ways that Tuataras communicate with each other?

- Head bobs

- Erection of their dorsal crest spines

- Vocalizations

1 multiple choice option

Which of the following reproductive traits of tuataras contribute to a generally low recruitment of the species?

- Takes 11-13 years to reach sexual maturity

- Females only mate once every 4-9 years once reproductively mature

- The eggs take 11-16 months to hatch

1 multiple choice option

Approximately how long ago did Tuatara diverge from squamates?

220 MYA

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following statements are true regarding hemipenes in squamates?

- They are stored in the base of the tail

- They are shaped differently in different species to help prevent interspecies hybridization

- They are useful for cryptic species description and identification

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) The typical squamate olfaction system sends signals from volatile chemical compounds to the orbitofrontal cortex and olfactory lobe of the brain. This involves the conscious interpretation of smells, often related to memories/experiences with those smells.

True

(T/F) The vomeronasal organ receives non-volatile chemicals deposited by the tongue. Sensory neurons interpret these compounds and send signals to the hypothalamus portion of the brain where it triggers innate behavioral responses.

True

Which of the following statements are true regarding limb reduction and loss in squamates?

- Most major groups of squamates have limbless or limb-reduced representatives

- It is associated with body elongation

- It is associated with a loss of regional body differentiation

1 multiple choice option

Which number below best approximates the number of lizard species described as of today?

7950

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following are common adaptations for aquatic lizards?

- A transparent third eyelid

- Long tail

- Dorsolateral crests

- Laterally compressed tail

1 multiple choice option

What is the technical term for the lizard ectomorph that specializes in climbing in rocky habitat?

Saxicolous

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following statements are true regarding the subdivision of the arboreal niche by Anolis lizards on Caribbean islands?

- Species divide the environment by height

- Species in the high canopy tend to be brighter green

- Twig specialists have short limbs and a slender body

- These different arboreal morphs have independently evolved on each island

- The "Crown-giant" species tend to be very large

1 multiple choice option

(T/F) Many arboreal lizard species that do not have specialized gliding adaptations are still able to generate horizontal momentum by assuming proper body orientation and undulating side-to-side while falling.

True

(T/F) When lizards are running they are using the same muscles that are involved in breathing, which means that they are breathing extra fast and getting more oxygen than usual.

False

Which of the following are common traits of lizards that run bipedally?

- Long tail

- Heavy tail

- Loss of fracture planes in their tail

- Short trunk

- Long hind limbs

1 multiple choice option

Which of the following statements are true regarding herbivorous lizards?

- They tend to have small, sharp, serrated teeth

- Their stomach and intestines sequester symbiotic bacteria that break down cellulose

2 multiple choice options

(T/F) Iguanian lizards tend to rely on chemosensory cues to fin their prey.

False

Which of the following statements are true regarding territorial lizard species?

- They defend territories with good food resources

- The males tend to be larger than the females

2 multiple choice options