Herpetology Exam 1
define parthenogenesis
"virgin birth" seen in female whiptails which can reproduce without a male partner, closest to cloning
describe the taxonomical classification for amphibians
1) Domain Eurkarya 2) Kingdom Animalia 3) Phylum Chordata 4) Class Amphibia
describe the tetrapod phylogeny
1) Rhipidistian (fish) 2) labyrinthodonts (amphibians) - batrachomorphs and reptilomorphs 3) batrachomorphs - acanthostega, termnospondyls and lissamphibia 4) reptilomorphs - reptiles 5) reptiles anthracosaurs
define the "coal age"
1) age where plants were fossilized for coal and amphibians flourished in canada 2) occured in the devonian, carboniferous and permain period
name families for order crocodilia
1) alligatoridae 2) crocodylidae 3) gavialidae
define ostracoderms
1) also called craniates 2) appeared in cambrian/devonian era 3) extinct 4) predecessors to agnathans and gnathans 5) distinct head region
describe and draw the parts of an amniotic egg
1) amnion - keeps embryo in amniotic fluid 2) allantois - storage for waste 3) chorion - extra protection encasing the embryo and contents 4) yolk sac - embryonic nutrition
name two reptilian features
1) amniotic egg 2) carotenized scales
Describe the characteristics of order Chelonia
1) anapsid skull 2) bony shell (carapace & plastron)
define placoderm
1) ancestors to modern jaws 2) divides into chondrichthyes and osteichthyes 3) true jawed fish
characteristics for family sirenidae
1) aquatic 2) external gills 3) slender bodies 4) eel like 5) lack rear legs 6) includes the greater siren and lesser siren 7) paedomorphic
characteristics for family cryptobranchidae
1) aquatic 2) flattened body 3) folded skin 4) large 5) sensitive to sediments 6) consume crayfish, snails, minnows and insects 7) specialists
characteristics for family proteidae
1) aquatic 2) paedomorphic 3) large external gills 4) caudal fin 5) four legs
describe feathered dinosaurs
1) archaeopteryx - was link between reptiles and birds, had flight feathers 2) dromaeosaurs - have colored feathers 3) protarchaeopteryx 4) caudipteryx 5) microraptor 6) oviraptorosaur - chicken from hell
name all families in the order anura
1) ascaphidae 2) paleobatidae 3) leptodactylidae 4) bufonidae 5) hylidae 6) microhylidae 7) dendrobatidae 8) ranidae
name the six prominent eco-regions of south carolina
1) blue ridge 2) outer coastal plain 3) coastal zone 4) sandhills 5) inner coastal plain 6) piedmont
define osteichthyes
1) bony fish 2) divides into actinopterygii and sarcopterygii
characteristics for order apoda
1) caecilians 2) legless 3) wormlike 4) skin that are calcite to prevent dessication 5) can reproduce all three way ( ovipary, ovovipary, vivipary)
name the two key features of reptiles
1) carotenized skin that can be scales or scutes 2) amniotic egg
define chondrichthyes
1) cartilage fish 2) includes elasmobranchs and holocephalans
name the three major amphibian orders
1) caudata (urodela) - salamanders 2) anura (salientia ) - frogs and toads 3) apoda (gymnophiona) - caecilians
define actinistia
1) ceolocanths 2) extant
name all families under order Squamates
1) chamaeleonidae 2) iguanidae - subfamily iguaninae, phrynosomatinae and polychrotinae 3) gekkonidae 4) teiidae 5) scincidae 6) anguidae 7) varanidae 8) helodermatidae 9) boidae 10) viperidae 11) elapidae 12) colubridae
name all families in clade Chelonia
1) chelydridae 2) cheloniidae 3) dermochelyidae 3) emydidae 4) testudinidae 5) trionychidae 6) kinosternidae
Describe the two clades in order Chelonia
1) clade Pleurodira - side necked, tropical 2) clade Cryptodira - inside necked, s shape, hinged, more modern
name three groups of agnathans
1) conodonts 2) ostracoderms 3) cyclostomes
name the three most common venomous snakes in south carolina
1) cottonmouth/ water moccasins 2) rattlesnake 3) copperhead
define invertebrate chordates
1) developed pharyngeal slits, cartilage and bone to become vertebrates 2) filter feeders
characteristics of family teiidae
1) diverse group 2) includes racerunners, whiptails, long tails 3) large back legs 4) tails can detach
name the system of taxonomy for herps
1) domain 2) kingdom 3) phylum 4) class 5) order 6) family 7) genus 8) species
describe the taxonomical classification of reptiles
1) domain Eukarya 2) kingdom Animalia 3) phylum Chordata 4) class reptilia
name two similarities between amphibians and reptiles
1) ectothermic thermoregulation (cold blooded) 2) small body size (saves energy)
characteristics for family amphiumidae
1) eel like 2) paedomorphic 3) aquatic 4) adults lack external gills 5) have four limbs but are really tiny 6) some snakes will prey on them
explain the life general life cycle of amphibians
1) egg cycle 2) larva 3) metamorphosis 4) adult
explain the life cycle of the family salamandridae or newts
1) eggs/larve are aquatic 2) juvenile eft stage that is terrestrial 3) adult which is aquatic
define conodonts
1) emphasized by their teeth formation which is cone shaped 2) extinct 3) appeared in cambrian/triassic transition
Name all the ways that herps lose water
1) evaporation - via skin 2) excretion - urine 3) salt glands - via pass of salt 4) digestive tract - depends on composition inside
define rhipidistian
1) extinct 2) labyrinthodont teeth 3) predecessor to amphibians
define dipnoans
1) fish that contain lungs and can move from location to location 2) extant
what is the purpose or function of pharyngeal gill slits
1) form jaw, ear or hyloid bones 2) form cartilage and nerve tissue
characteristics of order crocodilia
1) four chambered heart 2) crop 3) gizzard 4) osteoderms 5) dorsal nostril w/ valves 6) powerful jaws
name the typical features seen in the order caudata
1) four legs 2) long tail 3) costal grooves 4) reduced skulls 5) larvae with external gills
characteristics for family crocodylidae
1) fourth tooth protrudes 2) tropical
describe the amphibian skin
1) glandular 2) lack scales
name the three major threats to all herps
1) habitat loss/ degradation 2) pollution (toxins, runoff, meds/chemicals) 3) invasive species - out competes natives
name 5 ways pit vipers differ from other snakes
1) head - wider and triangular in shape 2) scales - keeled with a line in the middle 3) girth - wider and shorter 4) pupils - veritcal pupil like that of a cat 5) ventral scales - horizontal and single down to the tail
name the three invertebrate chordates
1) hemichordata - marine species 2) urochordata - sponges with organs and CNS 3) cephalochordata - amphioxis and extant chordates
characteristics of order squamates
1) hemipenes 2) flexible skull 3) includes snakes and lizards
name four different types of venom and briefly describe what they destroy
1) hemotoxins - seen in pit vipers, affect the blood cells and tissue 2) cytotoxins - mild, seen in hognose snakes 3) myotoxins - seen in lanceheads, affect muscles 4) neurotoxins - affect the nervous system, seen in black mambas
characteristics of family colubridae
1) highly diverse 2) "catch all group" 3) includes water snakes, racers, rat snakes and king snakes 4) constrictors
characteristics for family iguanidae/ subfamily polychrotinae
1) includes anoles 2) change color 3) dulap
characteristics of family boidae
1) includes boas and pythons 2) very diverse 3) infrared pits 4) remnants of pelvis 5) boas still have two lungs
characteristics of family chamaeleonidae
1) includes chameleons 2) have horns/crests 3) have chromatophores 4) have zygodactylus feet 5) prehensile tails 6) turret eyes 7) elongated tongues 8) tropical
characteristics of family gekkonidae
1) includes geckos 2) large head 3) cat eye 4) setae on feet - uses hydrogen bonds
family gavialidae includes
1) includes gharials/ gavials 2) tropical
characteristics of family anguidae
1) includes glass lizards 2) legless 3) fossorial - burrow
characteristics of family iguanidae/ subfamily iguaninae
1) includes iguanas 2) herbivores 3) mostly terrestrial except marine iguana 4) marine iguana possess salt gland
characteristics of family scincidae
1) includes skinks 2) smooth scales 3) small heads 4) elongated bodies 5) small legs 6) snake like body
characteristics of family chelydridae
1) includes snapping turtles 2) freshwater 3) head, tail and limbs do not retract well 4) shells do not hinge 5) strong jaws 6) long tail 7) predators/ scavengers
characteristics of family iguanidae/ subfamily phrynosomatidae
1) includes spiny lizards 2) textured scales 3) normally dry conditions
describe subclass Lepidosauria
1) includes tuataras, lizards and snakes 2) divided into order Rhynchocephalia and order Squamates 3) diapsids
name the 6 major events in vertebrate evolution
1) invertebrate chordate 2) craniates /vertebrates 3) agnathans 4) gnathostomes 5) tetrapods 6) amniotes
define gnathostomes
1) jawed fish 2) appeared in ordivician/siurian period 3) lead to predators 4) includes placoderms, chondrichthyes and osteichthyes
define agnathans
1) jawless fish 2) first known vertebrates due to skull and bony plates to protect brain 3) appeared in the cambrian era
name and describe the parts to the urinary system
1) kidney - excretory and osmoregulatory organ 2) ureter - tube carries urine from kidney to urinary bladder 3) urinary bladder - urine reservoir 4) urethra - carries urine from bladder to exterior
characteristics of order rhynchocephalia
1) lack hemipenes 2) primitive rigid skull 3) includes tuataras 4) have parietal eye 5) from new zealand 6) not actually a lizard
what are the three general features of amphibians
1) lack scales 2) thin glandular skin 3) an-amniotic eggs (makes them sensitive to desiccation and aquatic predators)
characteristics of family testudinidae
1) land tortoises 2) high domed carapace 3) "elephant" feet 4) huge in size 5) need conservation 6) keystone species 7) live in fire adapated habitats
characteristics for family dicamptodontidae
1) large bodied 2) live in moist coniferous forests 3) found all over U.S 4) have two distinct tooth points
name the characteristics seen in fish and frogs for life in the water
1) lateral line system 2) dermal bones or scales 3) dorsal or tail fin 4) notochord
name the characteristics needed for life on land
1) limbs and digits 2) vertebrate modifications - spinus process and zygophophyses
characteristics for family hylidae
1) live in temperate conditions 2) tree frogs 3) toe disks 4) arboreal 5) includes hyla, acris and pseudacris
define cyclostomes
1) living agnathans 2) hagfish - no scales and produce huge mucus for escape 3) lamprey - larvae known as ammocoete, contain all 4 chordate features, parasite that attach to fish
describe the differences between lizards and snakes
1) lizards - eyelids, legs, short body, long tail, have middle ear opening 2 lungs 2) snakes - no eyelids, no legs, long body, short tail, 1 lung, scales cover ear opening
define sarcopterygii
1) lobe finned fish 2) possess 2 basal bones 3) longer fin 4) extra bone for larger movement range 4) possessed lungs 5) divides into actinistia, dipnoans, and rhipidistian
explain the three theories why fish left the ocean
1) lobe finned fishes chased out of water by predators 2) shallow lakes were subject to drying out and therefore favored species that can withstand drought 3) dry land has more food, habitat and fewer predators
what is the purpose or function of the nerve cord
1) located on the dorsal side 2) forms the brain and CNS
characteristics for family ambystomatidae
1) mole salamanders 2) large head 3) some are neotenic
characteristics for family plethodontidae
1) most diverse 2) lungless 3) nasolabial groove 4) spermatophore 5) found in cold, fast flowing and high oxygenated streams
characteristics for family salamandridae
1) newts 2) eft stage 3) aquatic adults 4) rough glandular skin 5) old world salamanders
characteristic for family microhylidae
1) palatal folds 2) slender snout 3) lack toepads 4) teardrop shape 5) have skin flap that covers eyes when consuming ants
name two conservation groups that help in recovery herps
1) partners in amphibian and reptile conservation (PARC) 2) north american amphibian monitoring program (NAAMP) -citizen science project
characteristics of family viperidae
1) pit vipers 2) infrared pits 3) cat eye 4) triangular head 5) venomous - hemotoxin 6) hinged fangs 7) includes rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and copperheads
name the four chordate features
1) post anal tail 2) dorsal hollow nerve cord 3) notochord 4) pharyngeal gill slits
what is the purpose or function of the notochord
1) protein filaments 2) structure before bone development
describe the difference between protostomes and deuterostomes
1) protostomes - cells from the mouth region first, includes insects, segmented worm and mollusks 2) deuterostomes - cells form the anus first, includes echinoderms and chordates
describe the reptile phylogeny
1) reptilomorphs 2) anthracosaurs ( amphibians) 3) cotylosaurs (reptiles) - anapsids, diapsids and synapsids 4) lepidosaurs - rynchocephalia and squamates 5) archosaurs - crocodilians, pterosaurs and true dinosaurs 6) true dinosaurs - ornithischians and saurischians 7) birds thought to come from saurischians or archosaurs
what are the three order of living amphibians
1) salamanders (caudata) 2) frogs and toads 3) caecilians (apoda)
name all the families in the order caudata
1) sirenidae 2) cryptobranchidae 3) amphiumidae 4) plethodontidae 5) proteidae 6) salamandridae 7) ambystomatidae 8) dicamptodontidae
adaptations to maintain water
1) skin glands or mucous glands 2) scales 3) water collecting posture 4) uric acid 5) wiping mucous 6) cocoon/burrow
characteristics of family kinosternidae
1) small 2) freshwater 3) bottom dwellers 4) includes mud and musk turtles 5) dull colored 6) live in stagnant water
characteristics for family leptodactylidae
1) small 2) slender snout 3) typically tropical 4) introduced/not native 5) includes greenhouse frog and coqui
characteristics of family trionchydae
1) soft shell turtles 2) reduced bony shells 3) fresh water 4) fast swimmers 5) "pancake" turtles 6) have menacing bite 7) small snorkel nose 8) diverse habitat
characteristics of family emydidae
1) solid plastron 2) very diverse in habitat and species 3) includes sliders, cooters and box turtles 4) not all have hinged plastron 5) known as the "catch all group"
characteristics for family paleobatidae
1) spadefoot toads 2) contain keratinized pads 3) glandular skin 4) cat pupil 5) live in isolated wetlands 6) known for explosive breeding and short larval period
describe the bird lineage theories
1) stem archosaur 2) ornithischian - most likely to have occured 3) therapod - most supportive theory and includes dromaeosaurs
characteristics of family helodermatidae
1) stout body 2) fatty, blunt tail 3) venomous 4) primitive
name the subfamilies and genus of the family plethodontidae
1) subfamily Hemidactylini - genus Eurycea, genus Pseuditriton, genus Hemidactylium 2) subfamily Plethodontinae - genus Aneides, genus Desmognathus, genus Plethodon 3) subfamily Bolitoglossini 4) subfamily Spelerpinae
characteristics for family ascaphidae
1) tailed frogs - extension of cloaca 2) only one species in NA
typical features of anura
1) tailless 2) contain urostyle 3) modified vertebrae/hip bones for jumping 4) elongated hindlimbs
characteristics of family elapidae
1) terrestrial 2) includes cobras, mambas, kraits, coral snakes and sea snakes 3) deadly and venomous - neurotoxin 4) rear fanged 5) poisonous eastern coral snake
name the three major reptile orders
1) testudines/ chelonia 2) rhychocephalia & squamates (subclass lepidosauria) 3) crocodilia
characteristics for family dendrobatidae
1) tropical 2) posion dart frogs 3) dermal scutes on feet 4) colorful
characteristics for family ranidae
1) true frogs 2) webbed feet 3) large back legs 4) aquatic 5) includes rana and lithobates 6) have tympanum which are larger in females
characteristics for family bufonidae
1) true toads 2) glandular skin 3) large paratoid gland 4) bidder's organ
name the 5 types of reptile classes
1) turtles 2) snakes 3) crocodilians 4) lizards 5) amphisbaena (worm lizards)
characteristics of family cheloniidae
1) use legs as paddles 2) marine 3) fuse bony shell 4) includes loggerheads and other sea turtles
characteristics of family dermochelyidae
1) use legs as paddles 2) marine 3) leather shell w/ osteoderms 4) includes spiny softshells
characteristics of family varanidae
1) variable in size 2) includes monitor lizards and komodo dragons 3) narrow heads
explain the difference between venom vs. poison
1) venom - have a delivery gland, injected 2) poison - lack delivery system, ingested or created through skin or bite
define urochordate
1)free swimming tadpole-like larval stage which then attach themselves to the ocean floor to then metamorphose into a sponge that is sessile 2) sponges have organs and nerves 3)also known as tunicates 4) always retain pharyngeal slits and dorsal nerve cord 5) in larvae stage the notocord and post anal tail develop but are lost in adulthood 5) hermaphroditic but can reproduce both ways
_____ of amphibians are in decline
1/3
amphibians have a ____ chambered heart
3 - chambered
define scute
a bony plate seen on turtles that make up their carapace
an increase in latitude = _______
a decrease in diversity
family alligatoridae includes what
alligators and caimans
what were the first tetrapods
amphibians
describe the anapsid lineage
appeared in late triassic period, includes chelonians, turtles, early split off from reptiles, thought to be their own group called "parareptilia" but not successfull
define chytrid
aquatic fungus that attaches to frogs and grows on skin that eventually kills them
describe anthracosaurs
belong to reptilomorphs, known as "coal lizards", labyrinthodont amphibians, gave rise to cotylosaurs, first tetrapod to colonize land, both terrestrial and aquatic, long eel-like body with deep skull
what are eurapsids
branch under diapsids that are extinct dinosaurs with one high fenestra
describe theropods
carnivorous, most well known dinosaurs
describe the skull types
characterized by temporal fenestra 1) anapsids - turtles 2) diapsids - lizards and snakes, also includes euryapsids 3) synapsids - mammals and humans
define protochordates
chordates that don't have bones but still considered chordates
define pseudacris
chorus frogs and spring peepers
define zygapophyses
connections formed between each disc of the spine to support the vertebrae
what are herps
consists of amphibians and reptiles
define vasoconstriction
contraction of blood cells due to expansion of other muscle
what time periods was known as the "age of the dinosaurs"
cretaceous, jurassic and triassic
define acris
cricket frogs
describe tuataras
critically endangered, from New Zealand, two living species, have a photoreceptive eye
name the only poisonous snake in south carolina
eastern coral snake
define ovovipary
egg is retained in the female body, no placenta, no nutrition provided
define ovipary
egg laying where the embryo develops outside the body this is most common amphibians and reptiles
what is the major advantage to amniotic eggs?
evolutionary advantage to live on land, explore new territory and escape from potential predators that live in the sea
define salt gland seen in marine iguanas
excretes excess salt in order to live in marine environments
define vasodialation
expansion of blood cells due to constriction of surrounding smooth muscle
what are acanthostega
extinct, aquatic, important transitional form between fish and first tetrapods, appeared in devonian period
describe the great permian extinction
extinction of 95% of species except reptiles
define bidder's organ
found in male toads above the testes that is a dormant ovary
define "phryno"
frog bodied
what are batrachomorphs?
frogs. clade to modern amphibians
define herpeton
greek derived and means creep
what are termnospondyls
have back bone. appeared during the carboniferous period. found on every continent. more fish like and aquatic. extinct.
describe the diapsid lineage
includes lepidosaurs and archosaurs. lepidosaurs include rhynchocephalins (tuataras) and squamates, archosaurs includes crocodilians, pterosaurs and true dinosaurs
describe saurischians
includes sauropods and therapods, adjacent pubis and ischium
define elasmobranchs
includes sharks, skates and rays
define osteoderms
individual bony plates seen in alligators and sea turtles
define paedomorphosis
juvenile or keeping childlike state into adulthood
define vivipary
live baring young, secretion nutrition seen in sharks
name the two divisions/ clades for order Squamates
lizards and serpentes
which came first snakes or lizards?
lizards, thought that snakes derived from lizards
who were the predecessors to tetrapods
lobe finned fishes which had proper bone structure and lungs
describe sauropods
long necked, long tailed, herbivorous dinosaurs, big in size
define eutheria
long term pregnancy
define hemichordata
marine chordates that 1) can be echinoderm-like in their larval stage like sea stars 2) can be chordate-like in their adult stage which they retain a nerve cord and pharyngeal gill slits
define metatheria
marsupials or pouched mammals. the yolk sac attaches to the uteran wall
name two other general snakes that could be misidentified as a coral snake
milksnakes and kingsnakes
describe cotylosaurs
modern reptiles,no longer amphibians, stem lizards, appeared in the carboniferous/ permian period, terrestrial
define protheria
monotremes or egglaying mammals
describe archosaurs
more advanced reptiles with four chambered heart, crop and gizzard
describe true dinosaurs
ornithischians, parallel ischium and pubis bone, herbivorous, includes triceratops ( also includes saurischians)
define parietal eye
photo receptor that senses light seen in iguanas and tuataras
define holocephalans
rat fish that are tropical and have scales
define actinopterygii
ray finned fish that have one basal bone
describe pterosaurs
reptiles, winged lizard, flying reptiles with powered flight
define chromatophores
seen in chameleons that control color changes and are hormone related
______ and _____ have only two appendages
sirens and nectoris
describe the vertebrae invasion
started by the tetrapods and led to mammals, humans and dinosaurs
what are reptilomorphs
still amphibians. gave rise to modern reptiles and amniotes
describe mammalian lineage
synapsid reptiles that include pelycosaurs, dimetrodon, and therapsids. these reptiles gave rise to mammals
define spinus process
the formation of the spine
define amplexus
the mating position for amphibians
what is the purpose of function of the post anal tail
the reminent of a tail which is now our cox bone
where did lung-less salamanders originate from?
the southern appalachins
lissamphibia gave rise to what
the three modern amphibian orders and they lost fish-like scales, " smooth amphibians "
how do amphibians breathe
through cutaneous respiration
define cephalochordate
tiny filter feeding fish known as amphioxus that retain all 4 chordate features into adulthood
define hyla
treefrogs
define neotony
when metamorphosis is delayed if environment is unstable