Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Wildlife Biology > Exam 4 > Flashcards

Exam 4 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Number of Species in Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia and Mammalia / The 4 classes of tetrapods in order

A
  1. Aves = 10,000
  2. Reptilia = 9,500
  3. Amphibia = 7,000
  4. Mammalia = 5,500
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Smallest Mammal and Largest Mammal

A
  1. Smallest
    - Kitti’s hog-nosed bat
  2. Largest
    - Blue Whale
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Traits that all or most mammals share in common

A
  1. All have FUR or HAIR as part of the integument
  2. All have MAMMARY GLANDS that are used to provide nourishment for young
  3. Nearly all give LIVE BIRTH
    - > exception is a small group known as Monotremes
  4. All mammals are ENDOTHERMIC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Traits that all or most mammals share in common during Reproduction

A
  1. All male mammals have a COPULATORY ORGAN
  2. Fertilization is INTERNAL in all mammals
  3. Mammalian embryos develop in the uterus of the female*
    - > exception is Monotremes because they lay eggs
  4. All mammals are considered AMNIOTES
    - but mode of birth varies
  5. Are all ENDOTHERMIC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Three Mammalian Stances

A
  1. Plantigrade feet
    - animals walk on the sole of the foot
    - have better BALANCE on 2 feet
    Ex: humans, apes, bears, opossums
  2. Digitigrade Feet
    - Animals walk on digits, or toes
    - have increased SPEED and POWER
    Ex: Dogs, cats, predators
  3. Unguligrade Feet
    - Animals walk on toe tips
    - Increased SPEED and ENDURANCE
    Ex: Hooved animals such as deer, horses, etc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Taxonomic Organization Tree

A
  1. Class - Mammalia
  2. Sub-class
    a. Prototheria
    - egg layers
    - one order: Monotremata
    b. Theria
    - live bearers
    - 2 Infra-classes
  3. Infra-classes of Theria
    a. Metatheria
    - Marsupials
    - 7 orders
    b. Eutheria
    - Placentals
    - 21 Orders
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Order Monotremata General Characteristics

A
  • egg layers
  • only 5 extant species
  • all in Australia/New Guinea*
  • The Echidnas/spiny anteaters*
  • The Duck-billed Platypus*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Order Monotremata Unique General Traits

A
  1. All have a CLOACA
    - fertilization is still internal
  2. NO TEETH as adults
    - Have a leathery Rostrum
  3. Females LAY EGGS
    - 1-2 eggs
    - about 11 days of incubation
  4. Offspring are underdeveloped at birth
    - like altricial
    birds
    - 4 to 5 month period of lactation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Order Monotremata Unique Traits in Males and Females Specifically

A
  1. Males
    - have a SPUR
    -> venomous in platypus*
    —> One of only a few venomous mammals
    -> Not venomous in echidna
  2. Females
    - Lose their spurs early in life
    - Don’t have nipples
    -> lactate from a milk
    patch*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Infraclass Metatheria General Characteristics

A
  • live bearing mammals
  • The Marsupials
  • ONLY occur in Australia and the Americas
  • 7 Orders of Marsupials in the world
  • only 1 order in North America
    -> Order Didelphimorphia
    —> “The American Marsupials”
  • carnivorous, herbivorous, or omnivorous
  • mouse like, wolf like, kangaroo like
    Ex: Opossum, Koala, Kangaroo, etc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Infraclass Metatheria Female and Male Unique Traits

A
  • The Marsupials
    1. Females
  • Bifid reproductive tract *
    -> uterus and vagina are
    doubled
    2. Male
  • Many have bifid, or forked penis*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Infraclass Metatheria Young Characteristics

A
  • Young are born underdeveloped
  • Carried in marsupium*, or pouch
  • Suckle and grow until fully developed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Infraclass Metatheria Reproductive Traits

A
  • live birth, but have shorter gestation* than placental mammals
  • some marsupials can put gestation on hold
  • > kangaroos
  • embryonic diapause
  • > females mate shortly after birth and as long as young is nursing, a hormonal signal will pause the development of the newly fertilized embryo
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Two Types of Embryonic Diapause

A
  • temporary halt in embryonic development
    1. Facultative embryonic diapause
  • embryonic development pauses due to metabolic stress or lactation
  • Development re-starts when lactation/stress ceases
    Ex: marsupials and rodents
    2. Obligate embryonic diapause
  • embryonic development pauses as a regular part of the reproductive cycle
  • Ensures young are born during the ‘right season’
  • Day-length triggers re-start of development
    Ex: Armadillos, bats, bear, weasels, some ungulates
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Order Didelphimorphia General Characteristics

A
  • The American Marsupials
  • only order of marsupials in North America
  • largest order of marsupials*
  • Prominent sagittal crest on skull*
  • 5134/4134 dentition
    -> 50 total teeth
  • prehensile tail used to climb and hang
  • 5 digits per foot
  • hind foot has partially opposable thumb
  • Plantigrade stance*
  • Medium sized
  • Terrestrial to semi-aquatic
    -> Some have partially webbed feet
    Ex: Virginia opossum is the only marsupial in the southeastern US*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

InfraClass Eutheria General Characteristics

A
  • “The Placental Mammals”
  • most diverse group of mammals
  • Young are carried in uterus until birth
  • Has a Placenta
  • > unique to Eutherians
  • > organ attached embryo to uterine wall
  • > Nutrient, Gas, and Hormone transfer occurs across the placenta
  • similar to birds in that development at birth varies
  • > some are more altricial, others are more precocial and can walk shortly after birth
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Infra-Class Eutheria 11 Orders

A
  • there are 21 recognized Orders
    1. Cingulata
    2. Soricomorpha
    3. Chiroptera
    4. Carnivora
    5. Artiodactyla
    6. Perissodactyla
    7. Cetacea
  • Ex: Killer Whale
    8. Primates
    9. Rodentia
    10. Lagomorpha
    11. Sirenia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Order Cingulata Distribution and Diversity

A
  • “The Armadillos”
  • Only 1 extant Family
    -> Family Dasypodidae
  • Only found in the Americas
    Ex: Nine-Banded Armadillo
  • Dasypus novemcinctus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Order Cingulata Unique Traits

A
  • Dorsal armor*
  • > osteoderms and scutes
  • > Some can roll up
  • 3-9 bands that are separated by flexible skin*
  • Underside is not armored
  • Burrowers, so they have claws
  • Nocturnal
  • > poor eyesight
  • > keen hearing and smell
  • Homodont Dentition*
  • > long tongues
  • > Insectivorous Diet
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Nine-Banded Armadillo General Characteristics

A
  • can actually have 7-11 bands
  • solitary and long lived
  • members of Dasypus always exhibits polyembryony*
  • > 1 ovum, so multiple genetically identical offspring
  • > Nine-banded armadillo have 4 identical offspring
  • scarce in the US prior to 1900s
  • now most widely distributed armadillo species
  • > expanding north*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Order Soricomorpha Distribution and Diversity

A
  • “The Shrews and Moles”
  • Used to be called Order Insectivora
  • Every continent EXCEPT Australia and Antarctica
  • Only 4 Families
  • Family Soricidae: True Shews
  • Family Talpidae: Moles and Desmans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Order Soricomorpha Common Traits

A
  • Small body size and high surface-area to mass ratio drives their lifestyle*
  • > Lose heat quickly so must eat often, some every hour!
  • > Etruscan shrew has a heartbeat of 1500 bpm
  • > Do not hibernate
  • Fast-paced life history*
  • > Short-lived, about 1-3 years
  • > Mature early
  • > Many offspring
  • Most are fossorial and solitary*
  • Mostly insectivores*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Family Soricidae

A
  • The True Shrews
  • Longer, slimmer snout, and smaller eyes than mice*
  • Pinnae small or absent*
  • Toes
    -> Shrews have 5 front, 5 hind*
    -> Mice (Order Rodentia) have 4 front, 5 hind
  • Females lead young to forage in a Caravan*
  • Some species are venomous*
  • only one set of teeth are present at birth
  • Species are either Red-toothed vs. White-toothed*
    -> Reddish in North America
  • Only venomous mammal in North America!*
    -> Delivered via saliva
    Ex: American short-tailed shrews
  • genus= Blarina
  • Saliva can kill mice
  • Just painful to humans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Family Talpidae

A
  • The Moles and Desmans
  • Most are fossorial*
    -> Desman are more
    aquatic
  • Fur velvety*
  • Eyes barely visible*
  • No pinnae*
  • Naked snout
    -> covered with sensory
    receptors that make up an Eimer’s Organ*
  • Excavate extensive tunnel networks
  • Leave characteristic ridges in lawns*
    -> Benefit is that it aerates the soil and eats pests
    -> Problem is that although they don’t eat plants, they can dig them up
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Order Chiroptera General Characteristics

A
  • “The Bats”
  • On every continent EXCEPT Antarctica
  • 2nd largest mammalian order (behind Rodentia)
  • Only mammals capable of powered flight*
  • skeletal structure differs from birds
  • skin between digits forms a flight membrane
  • echolocation*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Order Chiroptera Diets and Ecosystem Services

A
  • over 70% are insectivorous
  • provide valuable ecosystem service*
    1. One bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects per hour
    2. Some are Nectar and Fruit eating bats
    -> many species are important seed dispersers*
  • Nectar feeders
    -> Many are important pollinators*
    3. Some are carnivorous
  • amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals and fish
    Ex: Vampire Bats
  • eat blood
  • from South America
  • target livestock
    -> crawl up to prey
    -> anticoagulant and anesthetic in saliva
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Order Chiroptera Echolocation Trait

A
  • Not all species
  • > Fruit bats lack this ability
  • Used for steering and to locate prey
  • Often ultrasonic*
  • > beyond human range of hearing
  • May perceive three-dimensional acoustic images
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Order Chiroptera Migratory Patterns

A
  • Flight is metabolically costly because bats have to feed often and a lot
  • Many migrate to follow the food*
    -> Move to warmer climates where food is available
  • Many enter torpor during cold periods in temperate climates*
  • Many bats are heterothermic*
    -> heart rate, respiration and body temp are temporarily
    reduced
    -> Not true hibernators
  • Often use caves while in torpor*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Order Chiroptera Roosting Behavior

A
  • Bats require habitats to roost
  • > during inactive periods
    1. Summer roosts
  • used during daytime hours
    2. Winter roosts
  • roosting while in torpor
  • > caves
    3. Maternity roosts
  • pregnant, or nursing females
    4. Some solitary roosters and some colonial roosters
  • > some colonial species have up to 1 million bats at their roost site
  • Many bats will use buildings when natural roost sites are not available
  • Can be a problem because droppings accumulate
  • > Bat boxes can be deployed as a management tool
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Order Chiroptera Reproduction

A
  • For their size, bats are the slowest reproducing mammal on Earth
  • Most small mammals have short lifespans and produce many young
  • Most have a litter size of 1 offspring*
  • Mother’s nurse while roosting
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Order Chiroptera Threats

A
  • One of the most threatened groups of mammals*
  • > slow paced life history limits their ability to rebound quickly from a disturbance
  • Threats
    1. Habitat loss
    2. Fear and persecution
    3. Insecticides and Pesticides -> kills their prey
    4. Disease
  • > white nose syndrome*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

White-Nose Syndrome

A
  • Effects Order Chiroptera
  • Emerging Fungal Disease
  • First detected in NY in 2007
  • Can kill nearly 100% of bats roosting in a cave
  • Has caused the death of over 6 million bats in the last 10 yrs
  • > Wakes up bats from torpor and destroys wing membranes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Order Carnivora Diversity and Distribution

A
  • “The Carnivorans”
  • Native to every continent except Australia*
  • Present today on every continent*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Order Carnivora Diets

A
  • not all Carnivorans have a carnivorous diet
    1. Obligate Carnivores
  • require animal flesh to survive
  • Meat is easier to digest than plants, but harder to catch
    -> so many obligate carnivores have adaptations specifically to catch prey
    Ex: Cats, mustelids
    2. Omnivores
  • Can survive without meat
    -> eat plants and animals, insects, etc.
    Ex: Dogs, raccoons, bears
    3. Herbivores
  • eat primarily plants
    Ex: Giant panda
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Order Carnivora Dentition

A
  • dentition reflects a meat eating ancestor
  • Carnassials/Carnassial pair*
  • > pair of shearing teeth
  • > 4th upper PM (premolar)
  • > 1st lower M (molar)
  • Prominent canines*
  • > Large and cone shaped
36
Q

Two Main Groups of Carnivorans

A
  • 15 families total
    1. Suborder Feliformia
  • Felids or Cat-like Carnivorans
    a. Family Felidae
  • Cats
    2. Suborder Caniformia
  • Canids or Dog-like Carnivorans
    a. Family Canidae
  • Dogs
    b. Family Mustelidae
  • Weasels
    c. Family Procyonidae
  • Raccoons
    d. Family Mephitidae
  • Skunks
    e. Family Ursidae
  • Bears
37
Q

Suborder Feliformia General Characteristics

A
  • cat-like Carnivorans
  • shorter rostrum, or snout
  • usually strictly carnivorous
  • > most are ambush hunters
38
Q

Suborder Caniformia General Characteristics

A
  • Dog-like Carnivorans
  • Longer rostrum
  • More omnivorous
  • > Many are opportunistic feeders, like the raccoon
39
Q

Order Carnivora Movement

A
  1. All have Claws*
    - Suborder Feliformia has retractile claws*
    - Suborder Caniformia has usually non-retractile*
  2. Stance*
    - Suborder Feliformia have digitigrade
    - > they walk on toes
    - Suborder Caniformia have:
    - > Some Digitigrade (wolf)
    - > Some Plantigrade (bear, racoon, etc)
40
Q

Order Carnivora Adaptations to Catch Prey

A
  1. Carnivorous members are cursorial*
    - adapted specifically to run with speed and endurance
  2. Many carnivores have forward facing eyes
    - Larger field of vision
    - > Good depth and distance perception
    - Prey (ungulates) have better lateral senses
    - > Better to detect motion and sounds of predators
41
Q

Order Carnivora Reproduction

A
  • Most terrestrial species have 1 litter per year
  • Mating systems are varied
  • > can be monogamous, polygynous, polyandrous, promiscuous
  • Relatively long period of parental care
  • Sometimes both parents and sometimes just mom
42
Q

Family Felidae General Characteristics

A
  • cat species
  • Most proficient predators in Order Feliformia
  • Short rostrum
  • Superb night vision
  • Good climbers and swimmers
    Ex: Mountain Lion, bobcat, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, lynx, ocelot, etc
43
Q

Family Canidae General Characteristics

A
  • dogs
  • long rostrum
  • complex nasal chamber
    Ex: wolves, jackals, coyotes, foxes
    -> Red Wolf, Gray Fox, Red Fox
44
Q

Family Mustelidae General Characteristics

A
  • weasels
  • Long bodies with short limbs*
  • Short-faced*
  • Rounded ears*
  • The smallest Carnivorans*
  • All are accomplished killers*
    -> Bite prey back of neck to
    sever spinal cord
  • Territorial
    -> Paired anal scent glands*
    that are well developed
  • Typically solitary*
    -> nocturnal or diurnal
    Ex: weasels, otters, badgers, martens, fishers, mink, wolverines, ferrets
    -> Least Weasel, Black-footed ferret, American Mink, Long-tailed weasel, North American River Otter, Wolverine
45
Q

Family Procyonidae General Characteristics

A
  • raccoons
  • restricted to the Americas
  • Variable face and body type
  • Medium-long tails*
    -> Rings are common
    -> Some prehensile
  • Contrasting facial markings common*
  • Most Plantigrade*
    -> raccoon and coati
  • A few Digitigrade*
    -> Ringtails
  • Toes*
    -> 5 front and 5 hind
    -> middle tow is the longest
    Ex: raccoons, coatis, ringtails, kinkajous, olingos, olinguitos, etc
    -> Ring Tailed Coati, Kinkajou, Northern Olingo, Northern Raccoon, Ring Tailed Cat
46
Q

Family Mephitidae General Characteristics

A
  • Skunks
  • Phillipinnes and Indonesia
  • Typically solitary*
  • Aposematic coloration is
    common*
  • Anal scent glands*
  • Plantigrade posture*
  • Toes
    -> 5 front and 5 hind
  • striped skunks, spotted skunks, hog-nosed skunks and the stink badgers
47
Q

Family Ursidae General Characteristics

A
  • bears
  • Largest terrestrial members of Carnivora*
  • Sense of smell better than vision*
  • Omnivorous except Polar Bear*
  • Some hibernate in winter*
  • Plantigrade posture*
  • Toes*
    -> 5 Front and 5 Hind
    Ex: Black bears, Grizzly bears, Polar bears, Sloth bears, Panda, Spectacled bears, Sun bears
48
Q

Black Bears and Grizzly Bears Characteristics

A
  • Family Ursidae
  • both can vary blonde to black
    1. Black bear
  • Edge of front pad curved*
  • Claws straight and short*
  • straight facial profile*
  • Larger and pointed ears*
  • shoulder muscles not as well developed
  • > no hump*
    2. Grizzly bear
  • Edge of front pad straight*
  • Claws curved and long*
  • Dish-shaped facial profile*
  • Shorter and rounded ears in relation to size of head*
  • well developed shoulder muscles for digging
  • > hump*
49
Q

What is an Ungulate?

A
  • refers to a mammal that:
    1. Has enlarged toenails that form hooves*
    2. Has an unguligrade posture
    3. Is an obligate herbivore
  • Exception is that some pigs and peccaries are more omnivorous
50
Q

Two orders of Ungulates

A
  • based on the number of toes
    1. Order Artiodactyla
  • even toed ungulates
    Ex: Swine, Deer, Elk,
    Moose, Pronghorn, Bison, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, etc
    2. Perissyodactyla
  • Odd Toed Ungulates
    Ex: Horses, Zebras, Asses, Rhinoceros, Tapirs
51
Q

Paraxonic Feet and Mesaxonic Feet

A
  1. Paraxonic Feet
    - main weight bearing axis passes between the 3rd and 4th digit
    - Order Artiodactyls
  2. Mesaxonic feet
    - main weight bearing axis passes through the 3rd digit
    Perissodactyls
52
Q

Order Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla Economic importance and Diet

A
  • are of HUGE Economic importance*
  • > in hunting, ecotourism and domestication
  • all are herbivorous*
  • > leaves, grasses, fruits, flowers, lichens, seeds
  • feed standing
53
Q

Order Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla Dentition

A
  • Grinding dentition
  • Jaw musculature that allows for chewing and grinding
  • Typical Dental Formula
  • > no incisors or canines on top*
  • > 0033/3133
54
Q

Order Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla Digestive Systems

A
  1. Plants are composed of cellulose
    - only a few ungulates can digest cellulose*
    - > pigs
    - pigs have a digestive system similar to mammals
  2. Most ungulates need help to break down cellulose
    - helped by microorganisms via fermentation in the gut*
    - > bacteria and protozoa
  3. Where and when fermentation happens separates Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla
55
Q

Order Artiodactyla Digestive System and Type of Feet

A
  • Foregut fermenters, or Ruminants*
  • have a 4 chambered stomach
  • fermentation happens in the first chamber, or the RUMEN BEFORE digestion*
  • food is chewed twice*
  • long passage*
  • relatively efficient, about 60% of cellulose is digested
  • ruminants do better than hindgut fermenters where food is high quality, but in short supply
  • > tundra and deserts
  • Paraxonic feet
56
Q

Foregut Fermentation vs Hindgut Fermentation

A
  1. Foregut Fermentation
    - fermentation occurs in the rumen before digestion
    - Order Artiodactyla
  2. Hindgut Fermentation
    - Fermentation occurs after digestion in the caecum and large intestine
    - Order Perissodactyla
57
Q

Order Perissodactyla Digestive System and Type of Feet

A
  • Hindgut Fermenters
  • Single chambered stomach
  • Fermentation happens AFTER digestion in the enlarged caecum and large intestine*
  • Food is chewed ONCE*
  • Shorter passage*
  • Less efficient than ruminant digestion, about 45% of cellulose is digested
  • Hindgut fermenters do better than ruminants where food is less nutritious but extremely abundant
  • > dry and arid grasslands
  • Mesaxonic Feet
58
Q

Food Sources when both Ruminants and Hind-gut Fermenters Coexist Exist

A
  • Where both types of ungulates co-exist, they often partition food sources*
    Ex:
  • Zebras eat the poor quality foliage in upper levels of grass stands
  • Gazelles and Wildebeest eat the high quality foliage that is uncovered by the Zebra browsing
59
Q

Migration of Ungulates

A
  • Do not hibernate
  • Many must migrate to meet food demands in cold and dry seasons
  • Migrations can be elevational or geographical
60
Q

Order Artiodactyla Characteristics of Males and Females

A
  • Males often have horns or antlers
    -> females in some species
    1. Horns
  • permanent 2 part structure interior
  • bone covered in keratin*
    Ex: goats, sheep, bison and proghorn
    2. Antlers
  • true bone that is shed and regrown each year*
    -> extension of the skull
  • velvet covers antlers as they grow*
    -> provides a rich blood supply
  • antlers harden late in the summer to be used during “RUT”, or breeding* and shed in the fall and winter
    Ex: Deer, elk, moose, caribou
61
Q

Order Cetacea General Characteristics

A
  • Whales and Dolphins
  • Mostly hairless*, except snout
  • Forelimbs are flippers
  • > no digits or claws*
  • Vestigial hind limbs*
  • Most closely related to Even-toed ungulates
  • Most are marine
  • Slow paced life-history strategy
  • > Long-lived
  • > mature late
  • > reproduce infrequently
  • females nurse from mammary glands like other mammals
62
Q

Two Major Groups in Order Cetacea

A
  1. Suborder Odontoceti
    - Toothed Whales
    - most cetaceans are toothed whales
    Ex: Killer whales, dolphins
  2. Suborder Mysticeti
    - Baleen Whales
    - fewer species
    Ex: Baleen, gray, right, humpback, and pygmy whales
63
Q

Suborder Odontoceti General Characteristics

A
  • toothed whales
  • Most cetaceans are toothed whales
  • Predatorial hunters*
  • Ultrasonic echolocation to navigate and hunt*
  • Homodont teeth to capture prey*
  • generally smaller than baleen whales*
  • > includes dolphins and porpoises
  • fatty organ on head (melon) used for echolocation*
64
Q

Suborder Mysticeti General Characteristics

A
  • Baleen Whales
  • Larger in body size than toothed whales*
  • > long flexible bristles instead of teeth
  • feed on krill*
  • Flexible baleen made of keratin*
  • > Filters food from the water such as krill, fish, plankton
65
Q

Order Rodentia Distribution and Diversity

A
  • The Rodents
  • The largest order of mammals
  • All continents except Antarctica
66
Q

Three General Types of Rodents

A
  1. Squirrel-like rodents
    - squirrels, chipmunks and beavers
  2. Mouse-like rodents
    - Rats, Mice, Voles, Gerbils, Hamsters, Lemmings
  3. Porcupine and Guinea Pig-like rodents
    - Porcupines, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, Agoutis, Capybara (largest rodent species)
67
Q

Order Rodentia Dentition

A
  • incisors are ever-growing
  • NO canines, there is always a gap*
  • > called the Diastema*, or the gap between incisors and premolars resulting from lack of canines
  • Can pull cheek in to protect mouth
  • misalignment of teeth can lead to death
  • Typical Dental Formula is 1023/1013
  • > 22 total
68
Q

Order Rodentia General Diet

A
  • Obligate Herbivores
    -> can include plants, fruits, nuts, insects, eggs, even some carnivores such as rats
  • rely on fermentation to breakdown cellulose
  • fermentation takes place in the caecum* similar to hind gut fermenting ungulates
  • practice coprophagy*
    -> Re-ingestion of bacterially
    treated food in the form of soft feces
69
Q

Family Sciuridae

A
  • Tail long except for fossorial species
  • Diurnal herbivores
  • some hibernate
  • many are highly social
    Ex: squirrels, chipmunks, marmots/woodchucks, and prairie dogs
    -> eastern gray Squirrel and Southern Fox Squirrel
70
Q

Family Castoridae

A
  • The beavers
  • > only 2 species
  • aquatic*
  • ecosystem engineers*
  • tail is a fat storage area*
  • > grows and shrinks with conditions and is also a tool
71
Q

Families Muridae & Cricetidae

A
  1. Family Muridae
    - old world rats, mice gerbils, etc
  2. Family Cricetidae
    - new world rats, mice, voles, hamsters etc
    - Historically some species were important for disease transmission
    - > Plague
    - > Black death, etc.
    - > Fleas transmitted the pathogen
72
Q

Order Lagomorpha General Characteristics

A
  • The Rabbits, Hares and
    Pikas
  • Diverse habitats
    -> Semi-aquatic, arctic, deserts, tropics
  • Obligate herbivores*
  • Continuously growing incisors and NO canines
    -> like Order Rodentia
  • UNLIKE RODENTS, they have “peg teeth”*
    -> a second pair of incisors behind their primaries
  • Typical Dental Formula is 2033/1023
    -> total 28 teeth
73
Q

Family Leporidae

A
  • Rabbits and Hares
  • Long hind-limbs
    -> good runners
    Ex: White-tailed Jack Rabbit, snowshoe hare, swamp rabbit, eastern cottontail
74
Q

Family Ochotonidae

A
  • Pikas
  • small short-limbed
  • > only about 6-8 inches long
  • > scurriers
  • Tail virtually absent
  • Ears smaller
  • More vocal than rabbits and hares
  • restricted to high altitudes*
  • > threatened by climate change
  • Rocky alpine habitat
75
Q

Family Leporidae Rabbits vs Hares

A
  • Predator evasion technique differs*
  • Development at Birth Differs*
    1. Hares
  • try to outrun predators
  • longer legs
  • some can reach 45 mph
  • more precocial
    2. Rabbits
  • seek refuge from predators
  • are altricial
  • > often hairless
76
Q

Order Primates Distribution and Diversity

A
  • One of the most well-studied group of mammals
  • Homo sapiens have worldwide distribution
  • > other primates are restricted to Central and South America, Asia and Africa
  • two suborders
77
Q

Suborder Strepisirrhini

A
  • Crescent, or comma shaped nostrils*
  • Nose moist and glandular*
  • Usually nocturnal
    Ex: prosimian and primitive primates
    -> lemurs, bush babies, loris, etc.
78
Q

Suborder Haplorrhini

A
  • More recently evolved primates
  • Ovate nostrils*
  • Nose dry*
    Ex: anthropoids (monkeys, chimps, gorillas, baboon etc.) and tarsiers
79
Q

Order Primates Common Characteristics

A
  1. Opposable first digit on hands and feet*
    - Except humans only on opposable first digit on hands
    - Flat face and short noses*
    - Large globular brain case and well developed brain*
    - Most are arboreal*
    - > not gorillas or humans
    - Diet is variable
80
Q

Family Hominidae

A
  • Males larger than females
  • Nails rather than claws on digits
  • Known for complex social structure
  • Single young with extended parental care
    Ex: Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and humans
81
Q

Order Sirenia General Characteristics

A
  • Manatees and Sea Cows
  • Slow-moving and fully aquatic mammals*
  • Herbivores*
  • Restricted to warm shallow coastal waters*
  • No hind limbs*
  • No pinnae*
  • Nearly hairless*
  • > vibrissae on muzzle
  • Only teeth are molars, they are replaced throughout life
  • > conveyor belt
  • Generally solitary or in small groups
  • long lived
  • one offspring at a time
  • > 12 months gestation
  • mammary glands behind flippers and nurse up to 4 years
82
Q

Family Dugongidae

A
  • Dugongs and Sea Cows
  • 1 extant species
  • In Dugongs, the muzzle is adapted for bottom feeding
  • Dugongs do not have nails on flippers
83
Q

Family Trichechidae

A
  • Manatees
  • 3 extant species
  • In manatees, the muzzle is adapted for grasping
  • Manatees possess nails on flippers
84
Q

Order Sirenia Stellar’s Sea Cow

A
  • Native to the Arctic Bering Sea

- Hunted to extinction

85
Q

Order Sirenia Diversity and Distribution

A
  • Only one species native in North America
  • > Found in marine & freshwater
  • > Needs regular access to freshwater
  • > can be through food like lettuce, or from drinking at rivers and springs
  • Hundreds are known to crowd freshwater springs to avoid cold winter temperatures
86
Q

Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger

A
  • Infraclass Metatheria
  • it was carnivorous, but was actually a marsupial
  • extinct because of over hunting
87
Q

The levels of taxonomic hierarchy

A
  1. Kingdom: Animal
  2. Phylum: Chordata
  3. Class
    - aves, reptilia, amphibia and mammalia
  4. Order
  5. Family
  6. Genus
  7. Species

Wildlife Biology (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions