Lab 3: Classification of Amphibians And Reptiles Flashcards
Order Caudata
Family Cryptobranchidae
(giant salamanders and hellbenders) – no external gills in adults, lungs present. All exhibit progenesis and permanently aquatic.
Order Caudata
Family Ambystomatidae
(mole salamanders) – lungs present in adults (transformed individuals); gills present in neotenic forms. Tiger salamander and long-toed salamander are found in Alberta.
Order Caudata
Family Salamandridae
(newts) – stout-bodied with lungs only in adults. Many forms go through two metamorphic stages – aquatic larvae to terrestrial efts to aquatic adults (newts). Some forms have lost the eft stage.
Order Caudata
Family Proteidae
(mudpuppies) – possess lungs and external gills as adults. Progenesis is the rule; all are aquatic.
Order Caudata
Family Plethodontidae
(lungless salamanders) – lack lungs and gills as adults. Lower jaw is immovable, tongue protruded for prey capture. Highly terrestrial, with many species adapted for life in caves.
Order Caudata
Family Amphiumidae
(amphiumas) – elongate, possess lungs and lack functional gills. Limbs reduced in size.
Order Caudata
Family Sirenidae
(sirens) – elongate, possess gills and lungs at maturity. Hind limbs absent, front limbs reduced. All progenic and aquatic.
Order Anura
Family Pipidae
(tongueless, aquatic frogs) – dorsoventrally flattened, thick waists, heavy legs and large webbed hind feet. Most use their forefeet in feeding. E.g., Xenopus sp.
Order Anura
Family Ranidae
(true frogs) – moderately streamlined with pointed head, slim body, webbed hind feet and well-developed hind limbs specialized for jumping (saltatorial locomotion). Tongues attached anteriorly. Eyes are large and placed well forward, giving binocular vision. Semi-aquatic. Spotted frog, northern leopard frog and wood frog are all found in Alberta.
Order Anura
Family Bufonidae
(true toads) – stout bodies with large parotoid glands present behind eyes. Tongue attached anteriorly. Pupils horizontal. Western toad, Canadian toad and Great Plains toad are found in Alberta.
Order Anura
Family Pelobatidae
spadefoot toads) – crescent shaped horny projections on side of foot, primarily used for digging. In southern Alberta you can find plains spadefoot toads.
Order Anura
Family Hylidae
(tree frogs) – slender, long legged with blunt head, generally arboreal. Toes often tipped with expanded discs. Boreal chorus frog found around Alberta.
Order Anura
Family Dendrobatidae
(poison dart frogs) – small pair of bony plates on ends of digits. Boldly colored, skin with numerous poison glands.
Order Anura
Family Discoglossidae
(firebelly and midwife toads) – tongue disc-like, cannot be protruded.
Order Testudinata
Family Testudinidae, Emydidae, Chelydridae, Cheloniidae, Dermochelyidae
Family Testudinidae (true tortoises)
Family Emydidae† (land and pond turtles) - Painted turtle found in Alberta. Family Chelydridae (snapping turtles)
Family Cheloniidae (sea turtles)
Family Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtles)
