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Natural History of Vertebrates > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Taxonomy

A

Branch of science concerned with classifying organisms in groups based on common ancestry

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2
Q

Binomial nomenclature

A

The Linnean system that assigns generic and species names to organisms

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3
Q

Linnaean ranks

A 
Life
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
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4
Q

Monophyletic group (Clade)

A

A taxon composed of a common ancestor and all its descendants

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5
Q

Paraphyletic group

A

Taxon that includes the common ancestor and some but not all of its descendants

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6
Q

Phylogenetic tree

A

A branching diagram showing inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species

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7
Q

Derived characters

A

A character that as changed from its ancestral condition

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8
Q

Parsimony

A

The principle that requires the fewest changes from ancestral to derived character states

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9
Q

Homology

A

A similarity due to common ancestry

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10
Q

Homoplasy

A

Similar traits shared by a set of species but are not present in their common ancestors

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11
Q

Convergent evolution

A

The process in which organisms not monophyletic independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches

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12
Q

Polytomy

A

Internal node containing more than two immediate descendants

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13
Q

Hemichordata

A

Phylum of marine deuterostome animals that are distinguished by a tripartite (threefold) division of the body

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14
Q

Notochord

A

A highly turgid, flexible rod of connective tissue that provides dorsal support

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15
Q

Dorsal hollow nerve cord

A

A hollow bundle of nerve fibers derived from ectoderm that runs dorsally above the notochord and gut tract. The dorsal nerve cord is later modified in vertebrates into the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

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16
Q

Endostyle

A

A longitudinal, ciliated, grandular, grooved organ that secretes mucus for trapping food particles.

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17
Q

Postanal tail

A

Segmented muscular structure made up of myomeres that extends beyond the anus used for locomotion

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18
Q

Myomeres

A

Blocks of striated muscle fibers that are arranged on both sides of the body

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19
Q

Cephalization

A

The development of a head through the concentration of sensory organs and nervous tissue at the anterior end

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20
Q

Haikouella

A

An extinct chordate species from 520 mya that was a sister to craniata (vertebrata), filter feeder and underwent cephalization. It had a notochord, myomeres, and a muscular pharynx.

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21
Q

Splanchonocranium

A

The portion of the skull that consists of the gill arches and their derivatives

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22
Q

Chondrocranium

A

The portion of the skull that surrounds and protects the brain and certain sensory organs

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23
Q

Dermatocranium

A

The skull roof composed of dermal bone, as opposed to endochondral bone, that shields the brain, eyes, and nostrils

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24
Q

Neural crest cells

A

An embryonic tissue that forms portions of the brain, facial bones, and almost all of the peripheral nervous system.

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25
Q

Hox genes

A

Group of genes that control the body plan of an embryo along the anterior-posterior axis

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26
Q

Dermal bone

A

A type of bone that forms in the skin

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27
Q

Endochondral bone

A

Bone that forms in cartilage

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28
Q

Sesamoid bone

A

Bone forming in a tendon or muscle

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29
Q

Neural arch

A

A dorsal projection from the vertebral centrum that, at its base, encloses the spinal cord

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30
Q

Centrum

A

The bony portion of a vertebra that surrounds the notochord

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31
Q

Devonian

A

A geologic period of the Paleozoic era and is considered the “Age of Fishes” as it spawned a remarkable variety of fish

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32
Q

Ostracoderms

A 
Armored jawless fishes present during the Devonian period. 
Not monophyletic
Body covered in dermal bone.
Cartilaginous skeletons
Some had pectoral fins
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33
Q

Placoderms

A

Armored jawed fishes present during the Devonian period.

Anterior of body covered with thick, bony plates

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34
Q

Acanthodians

A

Paraphyletic class of fish that is referred to as spiny sharks due to their shark-shaped bodies and immovable bony spines supporting most fins. Their paired fins have been interpreted as remnants of fin-folds.

Devonian period

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35
Q

Dunkleosteus

A

A genus of placoderm fish during the Devonian period that were large in size, lacked teeth, and had thick armor plating.

36
Q

Tidal ventilation

A

In-and-out flow of respiratory medium where o2 pressure of blood equilibrates with o2 pressure of the respiratory cavity, as in the lungs of a tetrapod

37
Q

Flow-through ventilation

A

Flow of respiratory medium (air or water) in one direction, as across the gills of a fish

38
Q

Anadromous

A

Migrating from seawater to freshwater to reproduce

39
Q

Ammocoetes

A

The larval form of lampreys

40
Q

Semicircular canals

A

The portion of the vestibular apparatus that contains ampullae (Sense organs within the semicircular canals used for detection of orientation and angular acceleration)

41
Q

Otolith

A

A mineralized structure in the inner ear of teleost fishes that is used for balance

42
Q

Mandibular arch

A

The first and most anterior of the gill arches, forming the jaws of gnathostomes

43
Q

Hyoid arch

A

Second gill arch

44
Q

Palatoquadrate

A

The upper jaw element of primitive fishes and Chondrichthyes, portions of which contribute to the palate, jaw articulation, and middle ear of other vertebrates

45
Q

Meckel’s cartilage

A

A piece of cartilage from which the mandibles of vertebrates evolved

46
Q

Spiracle

A

Small hole behind each eye that opens to the mouth used for respiration in some fish

47
Q

Pelvic fins

A

Fins located ventrally below the pectoral fins

48
Q

Pectoral fins

A

Paired fins located on each side just behind a fish’s head, helping to control the direction of movement during locomotion. Homologous to forelimbs of tetrapods.

49
Q

Epaxial musculature

A

Muscles on the dorsal portion of the trunk

50
Q

Hypaxial musculature

A

Referring to muscles on the ventral portion of the trunk

51
Q

Horizontal septum

A

A connective tissue partition that separates epaxial and hypaxial body wall muscle masses

52
Q

Squalimorphii

A

Superorder of cartilaginous fishes that includes squaliformes (dogfish), squatiniformes (angel shark), and pristiophoriformes (sawsharks).

Spiny dogfish and allies

53
Q

Galeomorphii

A

Superorder of cartilaginous fishes. Includes all modern sharks except dogfish and its relatives. Heterodontiformes (horn shark), orectolobiformes (whale shark, nurse shark), lamniformes (great white shark, tiger shark), carcharhiniformes (bull shark, hammerhead)

54
Q

Batoidea

A

Super order of cartilaginous fish consisting of rays, sawfishes, and skates. Most diverse group of extant chondrichthyans. Most are benthic. Pectoral fins fused to head.

55
Q

Cephalic claspers

A

Spine-encrusted clasper located on the head of chimaeran males used to hold the female during copulation

56
Q

Pelvic claspers

A

Male structure in cartilaginous fish located on the posterior portion of their pelvic fin used to channel semen into the females cloaca during mating.

57
Q

Prismatic calcification

A

A type of hard tissue lining the cartilages of the chondrichthyan

58
Q

Ceratotrichia

A

Keratin fibers that support the web of the fins of chondrichthyes

59
Q

Placoid scales

A

A type of scale that is composed of a vascular inner core of pulp, a middle layer of dentine, and a hard enamel-like outer layer of vitrodentine. Homologous with vertebrate teeth.

60
Q

Lechithotrophy

A

Embryonic development nourished by the yolk when eggs are retained within the reproductive tract until they hatch

61
Q

Matrotrophy

A

Embryonic development nourished by materials transferred from the maternal circulation

62
Q

Placentrophic matrotrophy

A

Situation in which placenta is the site of transfer of nutrients and wastes between the embryo and maternal circulation

63
Q

Oviparity

A

Form of reproduction in which a mother deposits eggs that develop outside her body

64
Q

Viviparity

A

The form of reproduction in which the mother gives birth to a fully developed baby, as opposed to laying eggs

65
Q

Yolk sac viviparity

A

Live bearing in which the embryo is nourished by the yolk sac, which is gradually depleted and refilled until the embryo is born

66
Q

Histotrophy

A

Form of matrotrophy in which the developing embryo receives additional nutrition from its mother in the form of uterine secretions called histotroph

67
Q

Trophonemata

A

Long filaments from the uterus which secrete a nutritive fluid, histotroph, which is absorbed by the embryo’s yolk sac or taken in through the mouth or spiracles

68
Q

Oophagy

A

Practice of embryos feeding on eggs produced by the ovary while still inside the mother’s uterus

69
Q

Ampullae of Lorenzini

A

Electroreceptors in the form of gel-filled canals that are open to the surface by pores in the skin. Helps sense electric fields in the water

70
Q

Hair cells

A

Specialized sensory cells that detect vibrations and changes in pressure in water caused by currents or other animals

71
Q

Branchiostegal rays

A

A series of long, curved bones that support the gill membrane

72
Q

Gas bladder

A

A gas-filled organ of bony fishes to control their buoyancy and stay at their current water depth without having to waste energy in swimming

73
Q

Monobasic fin

A

One bone that connects fin to body

74
Q

Latimeria chalumnae

A

An extant species of coelacanthiformes that was first discovered in South Africa by Marjorie Courtenay-latimer

75
Q

Cosmoid scales

A

Type of scale that has a hard, enamel-like outer layer, an inner layer of cosmine, and a vascular bone layer

76
Q

Ganoid scales

A

Type of scale that has a bony basal layer, a layer of dentine, and an outer layer of ganoine

77
Q

Pharyngeal jaws

A

A second set of jaws contained within the throat used in capturing prey

78
Q

Obligate air breather

A

Organisms that will drown if not given access to breathe air

79
Q

Facultative air breather

A

Only breath air if they need to and will otherwise rely on their gills for oxygen

80
Q

Leptocephalus larvae

A

Specialized, transparent, ribbon-shaped larva of elopomorpha fish.

81
Q

Homocercal tail

A

A tail fin with the upper and lower lobes symmetrical

82
Q

Heterocercal tail

A

A tail in which the upper lobe is larger than the lower lobe

83
Q

Premaxilla

A

The left and right premaxillae are a pair of bones at the front of the upper jaw of a vertebrae

84
Q

Maxilla

A

The left and right maxillae are bones in the upper jaw

85
Q

Urohyal bone

A

Central part of the mandibular skeleton that helps the mouth open and close

86
Q

Four characteristics of chordata

A

Notochord
dorsal hollow nerve cord
segmented muscular postanal tail
endostyle and associated pharyngeal slits

87
Q

5 characteristics of vertebrata (craniata)

A 
Dramatic size increase 
Dermal bone
Neural crest cells
Gills
Hox genes
Cranium

Natural History of Vertebrates (3 decks)

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