18 class reptilia Flashcards
(reptilis =
creeping
Also known as the “non-avian reptiles”
* Better adopted for living on land than amphibians
Class REPTILIA
Reptiles are
amniotes
class reptilia (cold-blooded) tetrapods
ectotherms
Body covered with
keratinized epidermal scales and sometimes bony plates
forming a complete thoracic
basket (except in snakes)
ribs with sternum
a specialized olfactory chamber in the rook of the mouth; enhances sense of smell
Jacobson’s organ
Male copulatory organ is almost always present (either a
penis o hemipenis
Testudo=
“tortoise”
if mostly terrestrial; limbs are designed for walking and shell are large and box-like
tortoise
if mostly aquatic; limbs are flipper-like for swimming and shell is dorsoventrally
flattened.
turtle
- Body in a bony case. Dorsal part is called
carapace
ventral is called
plastron
The largest reptilian order alive today
Order SQUAMATA
With advanced social behaviour
order CROCODILIA
Rhynchus=___,+ Cephalon=______
“beak”, head
Only includes 1 species:
only found in New Zealand
Sphenodon punctatus (Tuatara)
This suborder includes all the lizards
Saura
This is a specialized olfactory chamber in the mouth of some reptiles to help enhance their sense of smell
Jacobson’s organ
This is the ventral part of turtles
Plastron
What are the scales of reptiles made of?
Keratin
This order includes the caimans and gharials
Crocodilia
7 reasons why Reptiles are more advanced than Amphibian.
- Better developed lungs.
- Tough, dry scaly skin that offers protection against desiccation and physical injury.
- Shelled and amniotic eggs permit rapid development of large young in dry environments.
- Jaws are efficiently designed for crushing or gripping force, and tongue is muscular and mobile.
- Efficient and versatile circulatory system, functionally divided into pulmonary and systemic circuits/routes
- Have efficient strategies for water conservation.
- More complex nervous system.
