Comparative Vertebrate Morphology

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes from Comparative Vertebrate Morphology.

Taxonomy

The classification of organisms into a hierarchical system based on morphological similarities.

Higher or Lower Terms

Loaded terms that can lead to misunderstandings about evolution; do not imply quality or advancement.

Chondrichthyes

Class of cartilaginous fish, including sharks and rays, characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton.

Actinopterygii

Class of bony fish characterized by a bony skeleton and various reproductive and physiological traits.

Buoyancy

The ability of fish to maintain their position in the water column, achieved through swim bladder in bony fish and oil in the liver in cartilaginous fish.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among species based on shared characteristics.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms.

Cutaneous respiration

Breathing through the skin, characteristic of many amphibians.

Endothermic

Organisms that can regulate their body temperature internally, characteristic of mammals.

Mammary glands

Glands in female mammals responsible for producing milk to feed offspring.

Osmoregulation

The process by which organisms regulate the balance of water and salts in their body, crucial for survival in different environments.

Nictitating membrane

A protective third eyelid found in some animals, including amphibians and reptiles.

Ampullae of Lorenzini

Special sensory organs in cartilaginous fish that detect electric fields in water.