Reptiles
autonomy
"self amputation" can regenerate
ectothermic
Are reptiles endothermic or ectothermic?
neurotoxins
achetycholine isn't broken down, severe rapid muscle contraptions or achetycholine is blocked
albumen
additional food and water supply
yes, their brain is more complex than any other reptile. They are hard to catch twice with the same trick
are crocodiles intelligent?
ectothermic
are snakes ectothermic or endothermic?
terrestrial; can't swim
are tortoises aquatic or terrestrial?
aquatic
are turtles terrestrial or aquatic?
yes, they can vocalize
can crocodilians talk?
4-chambered heart: right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle
circulation of crocodilians?
amnion, allantois, yolk, albumen, chorion
components of amniotic sac
males
cooler eggs
dry, thick skin covered with scales -therefore don't rely on water as much have claws suited for digging, climbing
describe the physical features of reptiles
yes, they sat with their nest to protect eggs. Hatchlings stay with mom first year of life
do crocodilians protect their young?
longer
do male's usually have longer or shorter tails?
no, they have spectacles that keep each eye moist
do snakes have eyelids?
no but they have sharp edged jaw called a beak
do tortoises and turtles have teeth?
carapace
dorsal shell, fused bones of ribs and vertebrae
vent/ cloaca
eliminates waste and reproduction
ovoviviparous
female carries eggs in her body and delivers live snakes
oviparous
females lay eggs outside of the body
tail
from vent to end of the snake
through mouth rather than sweat glands
how do crocodiles release heat?
when the snake's mouth is full, it has to extend it's trachea (breathing tube) below the food and out in order to keep breathing
how do snake's keep breathing when they are eating?
by excellent eyesight and smell
how do turtles hunt?
- excellent - movable eyes - can see in color
how is lizard's eyesight?
3
how many chambers are in a reptile's heart?
salt gland on tongue
how to crocodiles excrete excess salt?
with their small strong teeth they chew their food
how to lizard's eat?
with external ear openings
how to lizard's hear?
male snakes have a pair of sex organs called hemipenis. During mating, the male inserts either hemipenis into female. Sperm can live for several months inside female.
how to male snake's contribute to reproduction?
they lack external ears but can sense vibrations through a bone on either side of the head. Vibrations are sent to the cochlea.
how to snake's hear?
- some have a special lining in mouth and throat for respiration which acts as a modified gill. - many use moist surfaces of their cloaca for gas exchange
how to turtles breath underwater?
yolk
main food supply for the embryo
amnion
membrane filled with fluid that surrounds the developing embryo. It helps to cushion and prevent dehydration
chorion
membrane that forms around yolk, allantois, amnion, and embryo. It allows for gas exchange
venom
modified saliva, glands located behind each eye
allantois
nitrogenous wastes are excreted into membranous sac associated with the embryo's gut. When the reptile hatches it leaves it behind with it's collected waste.
50 meals per year
on average, how frequent do crocodiles eat?
jacobson's organ
organ in the roof of mouth that picks up airborne chemicals.
forked tongue
picks up chemicals in the air
amniotic sac
provides nourishment to the embryo and contains membranes that protect it while it develops in a terrestrial environment
molting
shedding skin. Number of times depends on age.
head pits
sits inside snake's head, below their eyes. It helps them detect heat (infrared radiation) to find prey
plastron
ventral shell, fused bones of ribs and shoulders
females
warmer eggs
1. boas 2. pythons 3. anacondas 4. cornsnake
what are examples of constrictor snakes?
1. copperheads 2. water mocassins
what are examples of other venomous snakes?
turtles, snakes, crocodiles, lizards
what are examples of reptiles?
turtles and tortoises
what are included in the chelonia order?
1. massasauga 2. timber rattlesnake
what are the 2 venomous snakes in MN?
1. swallow prey up to 2.5 times size of head 2. constrictor 3. venom
what are the 3 ways that snakes can kill prey?
leathery
what are the eggs?
dislocate
what can snake's jaws do to swallow prey?
blood-clotting, neurotoxins, and anti-clotting
what can the use of venom lead to?
retract their head into shell
what can't sea turtles do?
nest temperature in incubation; temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD)
what determines the sex of a turtle and tortoise and what is this called?
small sensory pits around upper and lower jaws
what do alligators have to detect prey?
fish, crabs, frogs, turtles, snakes, birds, raccoons, totes, deer, and smaller alligators - known to eat already dead animals on occasion
what do alligators primarily eat?
long claws used for holding female during mating
what do aquatic sea turtles males have?
carnivores
what do crocodilians eat?
insects (marine iguana: herbivore)
what do lizard's primarily eat?
a backward curve
what do snake's teeth have?
they work together to give snakes the ability to climb trees and swim
what do snakes scales do for them?
herbivores
what do tortoises eat?
worms, frogs, crayfish, fish, plants and insects
what do turtles eat?
V- shaped - 4th tooth sticks up over upper lip
what does a crocodiles snout look like?
U- shaped - 4th tooth is covered up
what does an alligators snout look like?
to creep or crawl
what does reptilia mean?
a horny tooth on the reptile's snout
what helps break the she of the egg for hatching?
lizards, iguanas, chameleons, skinks, geckos, horned toads (also called horned lizard), and snakes
what is included in the squamata order?
nerve endings on the turtles dome shaped shell
what is on the turtles shell?
slithering or side wind
what is snake's movement like?
legs under body rather than out from the sides - advantage: speed and weight (bigger in size)
what is the ball and socket joint and its advantage?
cotylosaurs
what is the earliest known reptile?
komodo dragon
what is the largest lizard?
jacobson's organ
what is the snake's primary sense for locating prey?
most acidic of all vertebrates. Digest bones, hooves, horns, or shells
what is the stomach of crocodiles like?
powerful, stores fat in tail which allows them to go without eating for up to 2 years
what is the tail of crocodilians like?
it doesn't move; it is attached to the bottom of the mouth
what is the tongue of crocodilians like?
lungs
what is their primary organ of gas exchange?
their tails are often longer than the rest of their body
what is unique about squamatas?
ambush animals
what kind of animals are crocodiles considered?
internal fertilization - then lay leathery shelled eggs
what kind of fertilization do reptiles have?
turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, alligators, some lizards, and some snakes
what reptiles lay eggs?
hind limbs near tail
what was a vestigial structure on the pachyrachis?
prehisotric lizards 150 mya - pachyrachis: long shape like body
where did snake evolve from?
freshwater - therefore their salt glands are non-functional
where do alligators spend most of their time?
saltwater
where do crocodiles spend most of their time?
they return to their place of birth
where do sea turtles hatch their eggs?
in burrows or dens below the frost line
where do snakes hibernate?
underwater but their bodies do not freeze
where do turtles spend their winter?
turtles and crocodiles
which reptiles don't molt?
incomplete septum in the ventricle -turtles, snakes, and lizards only
why do they have a 3 chambered heart?
basking in the sun removes parasites and algae. In painted turtles, vitamin D production helps speed up digestion of plants
why do turtles need sun exposure?
they have no way of delivering it
why don't more animals use venom?