Lepidosaurs Flashcards

1
Q

what counts as lepidosaurs?

A
  • snakes
  • lizards
  • mosasaurs (extinct)
  • tuatara
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what are the shared lepidosaur characteristics

A
  • keratinous overlapping scales
  • 3 chambered heart similar to turtle
  • detachable tail if danger (not snakes)
  • paired hemipenis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is a rhychocephalian?

A

it is the only surviving species of tuatara
lives in New Zealand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are some shared lizard characteristics?

A
  • paraphyletic group that excludes snakes
  • they are diapsid
  • most have cranial kinesis: additional joints in skull to make them flexible (open jaw wider)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are some says lizards breathe?

A
  • by running bipedal
  • glossal pumping (muscular throat pumping air)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how intense is parental care in lepidosaurs?

A

varies within groups but no much

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are some predatory adaptations in lepidosaurs

A
  • sit and wait: usually camouflage into environment
  • widely foraging: constantly on the move to find smt
  • luring with tail to look like plant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what are some snakes characteristics

A

monophyletic group
- absence of eyelids
- reduced colour vision
- highly modified skull
- lack of external ear
- even more cranial kinesis
(not all legless reptiles are snakes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is special about snake heads

A

due to their extensive cranial kinesis they can increase their jaw flexibility A LOT because of their extra joints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

how do snakes feed?

A
  • cranial kinesis allows them to eat things bigger than their mouth
  • may immbolize or use venom to constrict prey
  • have curved fangs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how do snakes defend themselves?

A
  • venom (most popular)
  • taking the potions of others
  • look more intimating with rattle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what were mosasaur characteristics

A

they are extinct
- top predator
- breathed air
- vivparitous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how are monosaurs related to lizards?

A

through varanid lizards (includes Komodo dragons)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what are the evolution hypothesis of snakes?

A

swimming hypothesis
- they have the same skull as monosaurs and the earliest snake fossils came form the water so maybe they came from them
burrowing hypothesis
- many of their characteristics (like lack of eyelids) seems like they lived the fossorial lifestyle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly