Taxonomy, Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles
saltwater fish (osmoregulation)
during osmoregulation, this fish has to constantly drink water because they keep losing more water to their surroundings; their urine is concentrated with ions making it a thick paste
freshwater fish (osmoregulation)
during osmoregulation, this fish takes on too much water so the kidney works to get rid of all the excess water by making diluted urine
pectoral fin
each of a pair of fins situated on either side just behind a fish's head, helping to control the direction of movement during locomotion. They correspond to the forelimbs of other vertebrates.
Diadromy
fishes that move between fresh and saltwater to complete their lifecycles
operculum
flap that covers the gills
lateral line
nervous sensory system that detects vibrations
Vestigial Structures
A historical remnant of a structure that has little of no use in a modern organism but had a function in ancestors; such as a humans coccyx (tail bone).
Nictitating Membrane
A protective eyelid that some species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds have
Parasitism
A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed
Commensalism
A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited
Mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Urostyle
A special vertebrae structure at the base of anurans backbone that helps absorb the shock on the spine from jumping.
Phylum Chordata
A taxonomic group that contains fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals
order
A taxonomic rank used in classifying organisms, generally below the class, and comprised of families sharing a set of similar nature or character
Metamorphosis
A transformation or dramatic change of body forms as an animal grows.
pelvic fin
one of the paired fins positioned in the ventral, posterior portion of the body
gas bladder
organ that allows fish to be buoyant
Animal
organisms that are multicellular, hetertophic, lack a cell wall, and have eukaryotic cells
caudal fin
tail fin
Carolus Linnaeus
the father of modern taxonomy, grouped organisms by structural similarity
Aristotle
the first person to classify living organisms
A scientific name is always written in this form:
the first word, genus, is capitalized, the second word, species, is written in lower case and it is in italics or underlined
domain
the highest taxonomic rank of organisms; there are three of them that all life goes into: bacteria, archae, eukarya
Latin
the language used to classify organisms
Taxonomy
the science of classifying living things
8 Levels of Classification
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Outer skin in reptiles
Water-tight dry scales
Outer skin in amphibians
Wet mucous-covered skin with no scales
Heat-sensing pits
Used by pit vipers, boas, and pythons; detect infrared radiation (heat); used in nocturnal hunting for "warm-blooded" prey
Tetrapods
Vertebrates that live on land such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Internal Fertilization
When eggs and sperm meet inside of an animals body. Most reptiles, birds, and mammals mate this way.
External Fertilization
When eggs and sperm meet outside of an animals body. Most fish and many amphibians mate this way.
species
a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g., Homo sapiens
Dichotomous Key
a key for the identification of organisms based on a series of choices between alternative characters.
class
a major taxonomic rank below the phylum (or division) and above the order
4 characteristics of chordates
a notochord. a dorsal hollow nerve cord. pharyngeal slits. post-anal tail.
phylum
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom.
genus
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g., Leo
binomial nomenclature
a system for naming organisms by means of two Latin names: the first indicating the genus and the second the species to which the organism belongs, as in Panthera leo
kingdom
a taxonomic category of almost the highest rank, grouping together all forms of life having certain fundamental characteristics in common; there are six of these taxa: Animalia, Plantae, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Fungi
autotroph
an organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy
eukaryote
an organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus and numerous specialized organelles
dorsal fin
an unpaired fin on the back of a fish or whale, e.g., the tall triangular fin of a shark or killer whale.
Green Anaconda
The world's heaviest snake
Giant Japanese Salamander
The world's largest Amphibian (and salamander)
Komodo Dragon
The world's largest lizard
Nile Crocodile & Saltwater Crocodile
The world's largest reptiles (and largest crocodilians)
Leatherback Sea Turtle
The world's largest turtle
Reticulated Python
The world's longest snake
Chytrid or Chytridiomycosis
A disease that is caused by a fungal parasite that is partially causing and contributing to amphibian populations worldwide decline
Parthenogenesis
A form of asexual reproduction which involves the development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg. Some reptiles and amphibians are capable of this so called "virgin birth".
Number of chambers in the heart of an amphibian
3
Number of chambers in the heart of a lizard, snake, or turtle
3 with a partially separated ventricle
Number of chambers in the heart of a crocodilian
4
Phylogenetic Tree
A branching tree-like depiction that is based around organisms evolutionary history and the relatedness of the organisms.
cladogram
A branching treelike diagram used to organize living things based on measurable traits and not necessarily evolutionary relationships.
Ampullae of Lorenzini
An electrical current sensory organ in the snout of cartilaginous fish.
heterotroph
An organism that cannot manufacture its own food and instead obtains its food and energy by taking in organic substances, usually plant or animal matter
Sarcopterygii
Bony fish with lobed fins, these include humans and other land vertebrates closest fish relatives
Actinopterygii
Bony fish with ray fins, these include most fish today, with the big exception being cartilaginous fish and lobe-finned fish
Class Amphibia
Contains frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians
Osteichthyes
Fish with a bony endoskeleton; includes fish like salmon, trout, perch, bass, swordfish, clownfish, and 26,000 other species
Chondrichthyes
Fish with a cartilaginous endoskeleton; includes sharks, skate, rays, and ratfish.
Scientific Name for Man
Homo sapiens - which has to be either underlined or in italics
Respiratory system in reptiles
Just lungs
Allantois
Layer of the amniotic egg that collects and stores wastes from the growing embryo
Chorion
Layer of the amniotic egg that is used to regulate gas exchange and the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the egg.
Yolk sac
Layer of the amniotic egg that provides the growing embryo with nutrients.
Amnion
Layer of the amniotic egg that surrounds the growing embryo and keeps it from drying out and provides cushion and support
Paedomorphic/Neotenic
Retaining characteristics of an early stage in development into adulthood
Parietal/Pineal Eye
Third eye on the top of the head of certain reptile species (most notably tuatara). It is involved with dictating physiological cycles of the animal.
Jacobson's organ
Sense organ on snake's roof of mouth which detects airborne chemicals.
Synapomorphies
Shared characteristics that are used to distinguish and describe organism relationships on a cladogram; such as vertebrae, limbs, amniotic egg, endothermic, fur, etc...
Amniotic eggs
Shelled eggs which reptiles, birds, and a few mammals have.
Analogous Structure
Similar structures due to adaptations from similar evolutionary pressures (convergent evolution) and not a common ancestor.
Respiratory system in amphibians
Skin, lungs, and when young gills
Homologous Structures
Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry; such as the arm bones of a human and a dog
Order Gymnophiona
Taxonomic group containing caecilians
Order Crocodilia
Taxonomic group containing crocodiles, alligators, gharials, and caimans
Order Anura
Taxonomic group containing frogs and toads
Order Urodela
Taxonomic group containing salamanders and newts
Class Reptilia
Taxonomic group containing snakes, lizards, crocodilians, turtles, extinct dinosaurs, and technically birds.
Order Squamata
Taxonomic group containing snakes, lizards, worm-lizards, and legless lizards.
Order Rhynchocephalia
Taxonomic group containing tuataras
Order Testudines
Taxonomic group containing turtles and tortoises
Carapace
The dorsal (top) part of a turtle shell
Phylogeny
The evolutionary history of a species or group of related species.
Placoid scales
The hard teeth-like scales of cartilaginous fish
Perciformes
The largest fish Order, this includes fish that are perch-like; this Order contains upwards of 10,000 species of fish.
Convergent evolution
The mechanism that leads to organisms evolving similar adaptations (analogous structures) and forms when they aren't closely related.
Copulation
The physical nature of touching bodies during sex.
Symbiotic relationship
The relationship between two species that live in close association with each other
Herpotology
The scientific study of amphibians and reptiles
Plastron
The ventral (bottom) part of a turtle shell
family
is one of the eight major taxonomic ranks; it is classified between order and genus