Lesson 11 Reptiles & Amphibians Flashcards
What are the differences among turtles, terrapins, and tortoises?
A turtle spends most of its life in water, a tortoise lives mostly on dry land, and a terrapin spends a lot of time both on dry land and in water.
Can snapping turtles pull their heads into their shells?
no
How do snapping turtles protect themselves?
They stay in the water most of the time and are super-aggressive.
How does the alligator snapping turtle catch prey?
It keeps its mouth open underwater and wiggles its tongue, which is a bright pink. Like a lure, this attracts fish right into its mouth.
What is interesting about the snake-necked turtles of South America and Australia?
Their method for catching prey is interesting. When a fish happens past, the turtle open its mouth wide, thrusting its head in the direction of the prey. When it opens its mouth, its throat opens and fills with water, which both pulls the turtle’s head forward and pulls the prey into the mouth.
Explain the differences among the different kinds of crocodilians.
When an alligator or a caiman closes its mouth, you cannot see many of its teeth. However, even with its mouth closed, you can see a crocodile’s and a gavial’s teeth. Alligators and caimans have U-shaped snouts, while crocs & gavials have V-shaped snouts. Alligators have a bone that separates the two nostrils in the nose, while caimans do not. Caimans have a lot more bony plates protecting their underside than do alligators. A gavial has a very long snout with a bump at the end. Crocs & gavials have special glands that help them get rid of excess salt from their bodies.
How do crocodilians care for their young?
The mother carries her babies to the safety of a shallow pool and then watches over them carefully for a while.
Explain the stages in an amphibian’s life.
The spawning stage is when the amphibian lays its eggs, and the egg stage is the time in which the amphibian develops in the egg. When the amphibian hatches, it enters the takpole stage, where it typically lives in water and breathes with gills. Over time, it transforms into the adult stage, where it can breathe air and looks like its parents.
What is the main difference between a salamander and a newt?
Newts are specific salamanders that have rougher skin that is not as slimy as that of a salamander.
