Exotics

Question 1

What is the vomeronasal organ? (4)

Answer 1

• An accessory olfactory organ
• found in the room of the oral cavity
• responds to chemosensory stimuli
• connected to the vomeronasal nerve

Question 2

What is the unusual anatomy of the owls auditory anatomy? (3)

Answer 2

• the left and right auditory meatuses are different sizes
• this helps localise sound
• and so they can pinpoint the exact position of prey

Question 3

How does a fish smell?

Answer 3

Water carries chemicals through the nasal sacs into the choana

Question 4

What is the difference between how a fish focuses light and how domestic animals do it?

Answer 4

They change the lens position instead of the shape

Question 5

How is a birds eustachian tube different to humans? How is this beneficial and how is it an issue?

Answer 5

It is not closed, this means they can adjust to high altitude but it also means the pathogens can enter

Question 6

What allows some birds to see in UV?

Answer 6

The prescience of oil droplets

Question 7

What is different between the lens of a bird an of a mammal? and why is this significant?

Answer 7

Lens is softer, this means it can change rapidly

Question 8

Which species has a similar pineal complex (pineal gland) to dogs?

Answer 8

Birds

Question 9

What is parietal organ/eye?

Answer 9

photoreceptive sensory organ takes information from rods and cones

Question 10

Do birds have simple or complex cortical structures?

Answer 10

complex

Question 11

What is the lateral line system?

Answer 11

Detects vibrations and pressure gradients in water

Question 12

Where are the infrared receptors in snakes found and how do they work?

Answer 12

In pits near the eyes, work by triangulation

Question 13

which species have only 10 cranial nerves? (2)

Answer 13

Fish and amphibians

Question 14

Why might some birds have an enlarged brachial plexus?

Answer 14

need good nerve supply to wings for flying