Unit 2 Quiz

Bio 354 Natural History of Vertebrates

monobasic fin

one bone connecting the fins to the body

Latimeria Chalumnae

west Indian Ocean coelacanth

cosmoid scales

thick, hard scales found on some ancient fish, they have multiple layers: outer layer called vitrodentine, middle layer celled cosmine, and inner later of isopedine

viscous drag

resistance experienced by an object moving through a fluid due to the fluid’s viscosity, result of velocity gradient

inertial drag

when an object moved through a fluid and disrupts the fluid’s flow, result of separation of boundary layer

boundary layer

region of steep velocity gradient between still water carried by fish and the water moving freely past fish

red muscle

rich in myoglobin and mitochondria which allows it to sustain endurance activities

white muscle

specializes in short bursts of power and speed

Anguilliform locomotion

seen in eels and other elongated fish, wave-like, sinusoidal movements that passes along the body

Subcarangiform locomotion

used by trout and cod, move by generating larger waves towards the rear of their body, using about 2/3 of their body length

Carangiform locomotion

used by mackerels, jacks and tuna, generate thrust by undulating the rear half or third of their bodies, with movement concentrated in the tail and caudal fin, allows for high-speed swimming and efficient propulsion

Thunniform locomotion

used by tuna and sharks, the thrust generated almost exclusively by the large, crescent-shaped caudal fin, with very little movement from the rest of the body, efficient and high-speed prolusion for long distance and rapid bursts

Labriform locomotion

seen in wrasses and parrotfishes, use pectoral fins to “row” themselves through the water, slower and more precise

Iteropary

an organism that reproduces multiple times throughout their lives

Semelpary

organisms that reproduce once and then die

Gonochorist

species that have distinct male and female individuals, each with their own specific reproductive organs

Hermaphroditic

organisms that have both male and female reproductive organs

Simultaneous hermaphrodites

possess both male and female reproductive organs at the same time, meaning they can self-fertilize or mate with any individual of their species

Sequential hermaphrodites

start life as one sec and switch to another at some point

Protandry

organism starts life as a male and changes to female

Protogyny

organism starts life as female and changes to male

Parthenogenesis

asexual reproduction where an egg develops into an individual without being fertilized by sperm

Hybridogenesis

half of the genome is passed intact to the next generation, while the other half is discarded, blend of sexual and asexual reproduction

Gynogenesis

form of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without fertilization by sperm, presence of sperm is required to trigger development

Otophysic connection

anatomical link between the swim bladder and the inner ear in certain species of fish, it allows them to detect a wider range of sound frequencies

Weberian apparatus

the series of tiny bones that connect the swim bladder to the inner ear, enhances their hearing by transmitting sound vibrations from the swim bladder to the ear

Lateralis system (lateral line system)

sensory organ, fluid-filled canals and specialized cells called neuromasts along the side of the body and head, the cells detect water movements and vibrations helping it to sense its surroundings and navigate

Neuromast

specialized sensory cells found in the lateral line system of the fish, cells contain hair-like structures that detect water movement and vibrations, when water currents or pressure changes move these hair structures, it send signals to the brain, helping the animal sense the environment

Olfaction

sense of smell, involves the olfactory receptors in the nose detecting airborne chemicals

Olfactory rosette

structure in the nasal cavity of fish, packed with olfactory receptors

Electroplaques

specialized cells found in the electric organs of certain fish like electric eels and electric rays, they are modified muscle cells that generate electric charges

Electrocytes

individual cells that make up the electric organs in some fish, they are like tiny batteries, generating electrical currents

Osteolepiform fishes

prehistoric lobe-finned fishes that appeared during the Devonian period, probably not monophyletic, many morphological features similar to tetrapods

‘Eusthenopteron’

closely related to ancestors of tetrapods

‘Panderichthys’

large body size, heavy body, large teeth, no dorsal fin, shallow water adaptations

‘Ichthyostega’

bendable elbows, robust ribs, strong sacral connection, small tail fin

‘Tiktaalik’

known from Devonian

‘Acanthostega’

well developed branchial skeleton

Sacral connection

anatomical link between the sacrum and the pelvis

Polydactyly

when an individual is born with extra fingers or toes

Axial skeleton

central core of the human body and includes the bones of the head and neck, skull, vertebral column, rib cage

Appendicular skeleton

the bones that support the appendages or limbs

• pectoral girdles: clavicles and scapulae

• upper limbs: humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals and phalanges

• pelvic girdle: hip bones

• lower limbs: femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges

Cancellous bone

lighter, less dense type of bone tissue found inside the bones

Synovial fluid

viscous liquid found in the cavities of synovial joints, used for lubrication, nutrient distribution, shock absorption

Walking-trot

four-beat gait, legs move in sequence that creates a smooth motion

Positive pressure buccal pump

method of ventilation used by some fish and amphibians to breathe, animal moves the floor of its mouth in a rhythmic manner to draw air or water into the buccal cavity and force it out the lungs or gills

Negative pressure aspiration pump

creates a vacuum or negative pressure to draw fluids in

Pulmonary circuit

pathway of blood flow between the heart and lungs

1. deoxygenated blood is pumped into lungs

2. gas exchange: carbon dioxide exchanged for oxygen

3. oxygenated blood returns to heart

Systemic circuit

pathway of blood flow to the rest of the body

1. oxygenated blood goes to the hear

2. distribution: blood travels through arteries to the tissues and organs, delivering oxygen and nutrients

3. deoxygenated blood returns to heart

4. re-entry to the heart

Vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ

chemoreceptors organ that detects pheromones and other chemical signals

Keratin

tough, fibrous protein found in skin, hair, nails and the outer layer of vertebrate animals, used for strength and protection

Cloaca

cavity at the end of the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts, exit point for excretory and reproductive systems

Lissamphibia

group of tetrapods that includes all modern amphibians

Metamorphosis

process of transformation from immature from to an adult

Papilla amphibiorum

patch of sensory tissues that are sensitive to low-frequency sounds

pedicellate teeth

tooth morphology unique to modern amphibians, consist of a tooth crown and base (both composed of dentine) separated by a layer of uncalcified dentine

paedomorphosis

larva becomes sexually mature without attaining the adult body form

costal grooves

vertical indentations found on the lateral side of the bodies of some amphibians, particularly salamanders

nasolabial groove

narrow, vertical groove running from the nostrils to the upper lip, commonly found in some amphibians, especially salamander

neotenes

retention of juvenile characteristics into adulthood

intromittent organ

specialized structure used by males in many animal species to transfer sperm directly into the female’s reproductive tract during copulation

parotoid gland

large external gland found in some amphibians, located behind the eyes and secretes a milky, toxic substance when an animal is threatened

plethodontidae

lungless salamanders, largest family of salamander

hylidae

tree frog family

phallodeum

penis-like organ found in male caecilians, which are legless amphibians, it is inserted into the cloaca of the female for several hours to transfer sperm

uterine milk

nutritive secretion produced by uterine glands during the early phases of mammalian gestation, nourishes the young mammalian embryo before it implants in the uterine wall

cloacal gland

production of lubricants that facilitate egg laying and mating

spermatheca

specialized storage organ found in female invertebrates, stores sperm after mating and allows the female to control fertilization by releasing sperm when eggs are ovulated

pheromones

chemical signals released by an organism that affect the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species

hedonic glands

specialized glands found in some salamanders and reptiles, produce secretions believed to function in sexual attraction and stimulation

mental glands

it is responsible for producing chemicals that conspecific animals use to communicate

amplexus

mating behavior exhibited by some externally fertilizing species, the male grasps the female with his front legs, usually around her waist or armpits, to position himself for external fertilization. This embrace ensures that the male can release sperm over the eggs as the female lays them, increasing the chances of successful fertilization.

inguinal amplexus

type of mating behavior in amphibians where the male grasps the female around her waist (inguinal region) using his front legs. This position helps stimulate the female to release her eggs, allowing the male to fertilize them as they are laid

axillary amplexus

mating behavior observed in some amphibians, where the male grasps the female around her armpit (axillary region) with his front legs during mating. This position helps ensure that the male is in the right place to fertilize the eggs externally as the female releases them.

cephalic amplexus

type of mating behavior in amphibians where the male grasps the female around her head (cephalic region) during mating. This position, though less common than other forms of amplexus, ensures close contact for the external fertilization of eggs.

explosive breeding

reproductive strategy observed in some amphibians and other animals, where a large number of individuals gather and breed in a short, intense period. This often coincides with specific environmental conditions, like heavy rains or the onset of a particular season, to maximize the chances of successful reproduction

prolonged breeding

reproductive strategy where animals breed over an extended period, often months, allowing for a more spread-out mating season. This approach differs significantly from explosive breeding, which is intense and short-lived

direct development

reproductive strategy in which an organism bypasses the larval stage and hatches as a miniature version of the adult. This means there is no free-living larval stage; the offspring develop directly into juveniles that resemble the adults

premetamorphosis

is the initial phase of the metamorphic process in amphibians, especially in species with a distinct larval stage. During premetamorphosis, larvae undergo early developmental changes but retain their larval characteristics. This phase sets the stage for the significant transformations that will occur later in metamorphosis

protmetamorphosis

middle stage of amphibian metamorphosis, following premetamorphosis and preceding metamorphic climax. During this stage, the larva undergoes significant morphological and physiological changes, transitioning from an aquatic to a more terrestrial form

metamorphic climax

final, rapid phase of metamorphosis in amphibians. During this stage, the most dramatic transformations occur, completing the transition from a larval to an adult form

cutaneous respiration

process of gas exchange through the skin. Many amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, rely on this method either partially or entirely for their oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion

unken reflex

defensive behavior exhibited by certain amphibians, such as toads and salamanders, when they feel threatened by predators. During this reflex, the amphibian arches its body to reveal bright, often aposematic (warning) colors on its ventral side, tail, or inner limbs. This display serves as a warning to predators that the amphibian may be toxic or unpalatable

aposematic coloration

type of warning coloration used by various animals to signal their unpalatability or toxicity to potential predators. This visual warning helps to deter predators from attacking or eating them