Lab Quiz: Avians & Mammals

Question 1

Describe crocodilian taxonomy

Answer 1

Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
- Family Alligatoridae (alligators and caimens)
- Family Crocodylidae (“true” crocodiles)
- Family Gavialidae (gharials & tomistoma)

Question 2

How can you distinguish between Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae, & Gavialidae?

Answer 2

Alligatoridae: dark, U-shaped snout, 4th tooth hidden, freshwater

Crocodylidae: green/brown, V-shaped snout, 4th tooth visible, Africa, Aus, America

Gavialidae: dark, long & thin snout, only in Asia

Question 3

Describe Avian Taxonomy

Answer 3

Class: Aves
Subclass: Palaeognathae
Subclass: Neognathae
- Infraclass Galloanserae
- Infraclass Neoaves

Question 4

Extant bird characteristics

Answer 4

1. Toothless beak
2. Furcula (fused clavicle/wishbone)
3. Bipedal
4. Some have flight
5. Internal fertilization, lays eggs
6. Feathers (modified scales for flight, signaling, and insulation)

Question 5

Contour feathers

Answer 5

Outermost feathers on wings and tail.
Large and stiff.
Classic “feather” look.

Question 6

Semiplume feathers

Answer 6

Intermediate structure between contour and down. Fluffy ferns.

Question 7

(Powdered) down feathers

Answer 7

Entirely plumaceous.
For insulation.
Soft coral fuzz.

Question 8

Filoplume feathers

Answer 8

Hairlike with bards at tip.
Sensory.
Broomstick.

Question 9

Bristle feathers

Answer 9

Around eyes and nose.
Specialized to screen particles, can be sensory.
Tiny sword.

Question 10

Subclass Palaeognathae

Answer 10

RATITES

7 large, around 50 small extant species.
All flightless (except tinamous)
Lack a keeled sternum (except tinamous)
No uropygial gland seen in adults (except tinamous)

Question 11

Infraclass Galloanserae

Answer 11

FOWLS (Game, land, water)

Feet used for scratching/digging OR webbed for swimming.
Many walk/run as well as fly.
Keeled sternum present.

Question 12

Infraclass Neoaves

Answer 12

MOST EXTANT BIRDS.

Many orders.
Very diverse geographical range, coloraiton, flight mechanics, locomotion patterns, etc.

Question 13

Sclerotic Ring

Answer 13

Circle of bones protecting the eyeball

Question 14

Hyoid Appartatus

Answer 14

Y-shaped structure that supports the tongue

Question 15

Skeletal anatomy of a pigeon

Answer 15

Post cranial skeleton
Wing skeletal structure
Pelvis fused to synsacrum

Question 16

Types of contour feathers.

Answer 16

Remiges: Attached to end of wing (carpometacarpus and phalanges)

Rectrices: on tail

Covert feathers: cover pectoralis muscles

Question 17

Uropygium

Answer 17

Skin that covers the uropygial gland

Question 18

Uropygial gland

Answer 18

Produces secretions responsible for preening and weather-proofing feathers

Question 19

Pectoralis m.

Answer 19

Adduction of wings during flight.

Question 20

Supracoracoideus m.

Answer 20

Primary abductor muscle of wing.

Question 21

Deltoideus pars propatagialis muscles

Answer 21

Alter wing curvature, significant for flight aerodynamics

Question 22

Latissiumus dorsi

Answer 22

Involved in stabilization of the shoulder

Question 23

What type of lungs do birds have?

Answer 23

Faveolar

Question 24

What do the air sacs appear like in birds?

Answer 24

Look like mesentery. Easily collapsible.

Question 25

Does the avian respiratory system help with temperature regulation?

Answer 25

Yes, it helps with cooling.

Question 26

Does the faveolar lung change volume across the respiratory surfaces? What are they supported by?

Answer 26

No. Air sacs.

Question 27

Describe airflow across the faveolar lung.

Answer 27

Unidirectional, continuous airflow.

Question 28

Does "new" and "old" air mix in the faveolar lung?

Answer 28

No

Question 29

Describe the movement of air in one breath cycle of bird respiration.

Answer 29

Inhale (bring air into air sac), exhale (push air across parabronchi), inhale (bring air into "top" sac), exhale (move air out of lungs).

Question 30

Describe the avian heart. What does the circulatory system help to regulate?

Answer 30

4 chambered heart. Complete separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. ((R)Deoxy comes from tissues, enters heart then resp surface, oxy blood leaves resp, enters heart, and goes to system (L)) Body temperature.

Question 31

Is the left or right ventricle stronger? Why?

Answer 31

Left. Has to push blood to entire system. Right pushes blood less distance to delicate respiratory surfaces.

Question 32

Crop

Answer 32

Sac-like specialization of the esophagus. Used to store food.

Question 33

Proventriculus

Answer 33

Secretes strong hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes to begin chemical digestion.

Question 34

Gizzard

Answer 34

Highly muscular. Performs most mechanical breakdown of food.

Question 35

Duodenum/small intestine

Answer 35

Remainder of digestion occurs in the duodenum. Released nutrients are absorbed in the lower small intestine.

Question 36

Ceca

Answer 36

Pouches where the small and large intestines join. Used for water and remaining digested material absorption.

Question 37

Large intestine

Answer 37

Last water reabsorption

Question 38

Cloaca

Answer 38

Uric acid secretion

Question 39

Describe bird mating.

Answer 39

Very complex. Lekking, auditory calling, courtship dance, display --> cloacal kiss