Chapter 17: The Early Tetrapods & Modern Amphibians

Question 1

What types of organisms are considered Amniotes?

Answer 1

Nonavian reptiles, birds & mammals

Question 2

What are the only living vertebrates that have a transition from water to land?

Answer 2

Amphibians

Question 3

What is Ontogeny?

Answer 3

Organismal Development

Question 4

What is Phylogeny?

Answer 4

Evolutionary History

Question 5

Amphibians are Quasiterristrial. What does this mean?

Answer 5

They hover between aquatic and terrestrial environments and never stray far from water

Question 6

What is considered the most dramatic event in animal evolution?

Answer 6

The amphibians transition from water to land

Question 7

List some important physical differences between water and land ( + details) (4)

Answer 7

Oxygen content- more abundant in air.
Fluid Density- air is less buoyant
Temperature Regulation- air fluctuates in temp more than water
Habitat Diversity- amphibians had to evolve in almost every organ system to survive.

Question 8

The Sporacular Tract in Tetrapods is said to have developed from what structure?

Answer 8

Swim Bladder

Question 9

What are the 3 groups are Modern Amphibians?

Answer 9

Anurans (Frogs), Salamanders, & Caecilians

Question 10

In Modern Amphibians aquatic eggs will hatch revealing what? (specific)

Answer 10

Aquatic larvae with gills

Question 11

During the Metamorphosis of Aquatic amphibian larvae what happens

Answer 11

Gills are lost, and lungs form requiring cutaneous respiration

Question 12

Modern Amphibians are Ecotherms, what does this mean?

Answer 12

Their body temperature matches environmental temperature

Question 13

Where are Modern Amphibian eggs laid? Why?

Answer 13

In or near water, to avoid desiccation (drying out)

Question 14

How many Caecilians are there? Families? Species?

Answer 14

10 families with 215 species

Question 15

Where are Caecilians located?

Answer 15

Tropical habitats, terrestrial, legless

Question 16

Describe Caecilian vision?

Answer 16

Greatly reduced or lost eyes (blind)

Question 17

Caecilians are Fossorial, would does this mean?

Answer 17

They are burrowing organisms

Question 18

What do Caecilians eat?

Answer 18

Termites, earthworms, insects (small or elongated prey)

Question 19

How many Salamanders are there? Families? Species?

Answer 19

10 families with 765 species

Question 20

How do Salamanders move?

Answer 20

Walking trot gait similar to early tetrapods. Combine lateral undulations with leg movement

Question 21

Salamanders are almost entirely limited to the ____

Answer 21

Northern Hemisphere

Question 22

There are more species of Salamanders in _____ (state) than all of Europe and Asia combined.

Answer 22

Tennesse

Question 23

How do most Salamanders reproduce?

Answer 23

Internal Fertilization- eggs laid in water or moist place

Question 24

Describe the development of Terrestrial species of Salamanders

Answer 24

Direct Development; no larval stage

Question 25

In general the main method of gas exchange in Salamanders is _____.

Answer 25

Cutaneous respiration

Question 26

Salamanders have ____ when aquatic

Answer 26

gills

Question 27

_____ are present at birth in Salamanders but later become primary means of respiration

Answer 27

Lungs

Question 28

How many Anurans (Frogs) are there? Families? Species?

Answer 28

Over 50 families with over 7,350 species

Question 29

True/False: Anurans are found on every continent

Answer 29

False; they are not found on Antartica

Question 30

What is the distinct larval stage of Anurans?

Answer 30

Tadpoles

Question 31

Many anuran species have a ____ which is a posterior fused vertebrae for jumping.

Answer 31

urostyle

Question 32

What kind of tongue do anurans have?

Answer 32

Viscoelastic Tongue

Question 33

Describe the function of a Viscoelastic Tongue

Answer 33

Uses a catapult mechanism to project tongue out to trap prey and carry it back to their mouth

Question 34

What is unique about a Horned Toads’ tongue?

Answer 34

They have sticky saliva that has an adhesive strength greater than their body weights

Question 35

How do Anurans communicate during mating season?

Answer 35

Advertisement calls; used to announce prescence and attract females

Question 36

Females only recognize conspecific males’ calls, what does this mean?

Answer 36

They only recognize the Advertisement calls of males of the same species as themselves

Question 37

______ is the ancestral reproduction method for anurans

Answer 37

External Fertilization

Question 38

What is the function of an Amplexus?

Answer 38

Allows male to hold onto female and wait for her to release eggs so he can fertilize them

Question 39

Do Anurans demonstrate parental care?

Answer 39

Yes, adults of many species guard and protect their eggs