Post-Midterm Material Flashcards
What is a cleidoic egg?
- A key feature of an amniote.
- Has a semi-permeable shell which allows gases to pass (oxygen and carbon dioxide), but keeps fluids inside.
- Has extra-embryonic membranes.
What is the purpose of the extra-embryonic membranes of a cleidoic egg?
- Protection and gas transfer: chorion surrounds the embryo and yolk sac, amnion surrounds the embryo with water.
- Respiration and waste storage: Allantois fills with waste as yolk proteins are used.
What is the importance of the cleidoic egg?
- Allowed for the full development of an organism on land.
- Allowed the embryo to become larger before hatching, allowing more energy to be invested in each egg.
What are some derived features of amniotes (besides the cleidoic egg)?
- Low skin permeability
- Greater variety of skin elaborations.
- Presence of a lipid. - Costal (rib) ventilation of the lungs
- allows for a long neck (buccal pump muscles not
needed).
- space for elaboration of nerves that supply the
forelimb.
Describe the amniote axial skeleton.
- Regionalization of the vertebral column is expanded.
- Lumbar ribs lost in some amniotes.
- No ribs in the way of hindlimb movement.
- Allowed vertical plane flexion of the column.
- Easier limb oscillation.
- Rapid locomotion.
Describe the atlas and axis vertebrae in amniotes.
- Atlas and axis have reduced centrum and processes.
- Skull-atlas joint: Vertical nodding and horizontal tilting of the head.
- Atlanto-axial joint: twisting movement.
- Maintains bony strength of neck while allowing cranial mobility.
How are trunk vertebrae positioned in amniotes?
Trunk vertebrae are held in a archer’s bow-like arch by abdominal muscles and sternum.
How are cervical vertebrae positioned in amniotes?
Cervical vertebrae are held in a violin-bow-like reversed arch by neck ligaments.
How has gravity changed body support in amniotes?
- Body is suspended between legs with vertebral column as a “bridge” between support posts.
- Requires a firm vertebral column.
- Direction and height of vertebral neural spines modified to deal with mechanical forces acting on the vertebral column.
How did limb posture change in early amniotes?
- In many mammals and dinosaurs, limbs are situated under the body for increased efficiency of limb swing during locomotion.
- Digits and limbs rotated inward, made forward thrust better aligned with the direction of movement.
What is anapsid fenestrae?
No temporal fenestrae present (earliest amniotes and turtles).
What is synapsid fenestrae?
One lower temporal fenestra (extinct synapsids and mammals).
What is diapsid fenestrae?
Two temporal fenestrae (reptiles and birds).
What is euryapsid fenestrae?
One upper temporal fenestra (marine dinosaurs).
Describe the parallel evolution of and differences between the two approaches to terrestrial life (Synapsids vs Sauropsids).
Parallel Evolution:
- fast-moving predators
- flight
- endothermy
- extensive parental care and complex social behaviour.
Differences:
- solutions to repiratory/locomotion conflict.
- solutions to high rate of gas exchange/conserve water conflict.
- body insulation
- excretory system
How can amphibious fish survive in air for months?
- Gas exchange through skin.
- Air gulping.
- Gills non-functional.
What is sauropsida?
- A group of amniotes known as “lizard faces.”
- Includes anapsids (turtles) and diapsids.
Describe the testudine group of anapsids (turtles).
- Present by the late Triassic.
- Hard shell and toothless skull hasn’t changed.
- Dorsal carapace and ventral plastron attached on the sides.
What is the origin of the turtle body plan?
Shell: [vertebrae + ribs + osteoderms] + scutes (keratin)
Position of scapula: inside of rib cage.
Two hypotheses:
- The classic transformationalist view
- gradual transformation - The emergentist view
- rapid evolution via changes in developmental regulation.
Describe the Sauropsid first diapsids.
- Origins in Carboniferous period.
- Includes Petrolacosaurus
- Smaller head, longer limbs and neck than earliest amniotes.
- skull has larger orbits and two fenestrae.
Describe the Lepidosauromorphs/Lepidosauria Sauropsids.
- Extinct forms leading to Squamates (lizards and snakes).
- Oldest lizards present from mid-Jurassic, snakes from early Cretaceous.
- Relationship between legless forms (snakes) and lizards is uncertain.
- Origin of snakes is still debated.
Describe the skull adaptations in squamates.
- Lower temporal bar absent in lizards, upper and lower absent in snakes (improved jaw mobility and swallowing).
- Cranial kinesis (mobility) in lizards modified jaw mechanics.
- Snout tips up when jaws open, tips down when jaws close.
What is lateral undulation?
A form of crawling locomotion (limbless). Moving waves push sideways against contact points (min. 3), generating a reaction force with a forward component.
What is concertina movement?
A form of crawling locomotion (limbless), but costly, and only used in narrow spaces (tunnels). Stationary coils wedge the animal into place while free body parts move forward.
What is sidewinding?
A form of crawling locomotion (limbless), used over sandy soil. Body contacts 2-3 straight tracks at a time with different segments in succession as they are released from the previous track.
What is rectilinear movement?
A form of crawling locomotion (limbless) used by many snakes and all amphisbaenians. Requires specialized muscles progressively lifting and bringing forward ventral scutes to peg them onto the ground. Where the body is not in contact with the ground, the body is moved forward within the distensible skin.
Describe the Sauropterygia Sauropsids.
- Aquatic reptiles of the Mesozoic with euryapsid skulls.
- Plesiosaur locomotion: swims using “paddles.”
Describe the Ichthyosaur Sauropsids.
- Mesozoic group of fish/dolphin-like predators.
- Euryapsid skull.
- Dominant in Jurassic seas, but phylogenetic position is uncertain.
Describe Archosauromorph Sauropsids.
- Small groups and the archosaurs (“ruling reptiles”), a very large group.
- Archosaurs include crocodilians, dinosaurs, birds and related groups.
Describe the Pterosaur group of Archosaurs.
- First group of vertebrates to evolve powered flight using membranous wings supported by an elongated forelimb.
- Late Triassic.
- Early forms had long tails and teeth.
- Later forms lost teeth and got a crest on their head.
Describe the Dinosaur group of Archosaurs.
- Radiation started in late Triassic.
- Two major groups, Saurischia and Ornithischia, distinguished by structure of pelvic girdle.
- Saurischians: girdle bones radiate outward from centre.
- Ornithischians: ischium and part of pubis are parallel and project backward.
What are the main groups of Saurischians (group of dinosaurs)?
- Sauropodomorphs: mostly herbivorous (e.g. Diplodocus).
- Theropods: mostly carnivorous, bipedal (e.g. Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor).
- Birds likely evolved from therapods.
What are some skeletal adaptations of giant dinosaurs?
- Shortened, pillar-like limbs (weight support).
- Reduction/shortening of wrists/fingers and ankles/toes.
- Elongated necks (more, longer, and lighter cervical vertebrae).
What are the main groups of Ornithischians (group of dinosaurs)?
- Thyreophorans: e.g. anklyosaurs and stegosaurs.
- Ornithopods: e.g. duck-billed dinosaurs (able to chew).
- Pachycephalosaurs: ‘head-butting’ dinosaurs.
- Ceratopsians: e.g. triceratops.
(All groups are herbivorous).
Why were dinosaurs so successful?
- Their evolutionary rivals, Crurotarsans, died out by chance.
- Dinosaurs filled the ecological niches with their specialized adaptations.
What are the hypotheses for the origin of flight?
The classics:
- Arboreal Hypothesis: gliding from tree to tree.
- Cursorial Hypothesis: running start and lifted off the ground for insect foraging.
New ideas:
1. Used wings to scale inclined objects and trees.
What are the skeletal adaptations of birds?
- Skull: Reduced number and thinner bones, no teeth, light weight.
- Exceptional flexibility of neck: Compensates for loss of forelimbs, heterocoelus cervical vertebrae.
- Very rigid backbone: Minimizes number of muscles needed to maintain streamlined body during flight, reducing energy consumption.
- Pelvic girdle fused with synsacrum: bipedal, no symphysis, large pelvic outlet for massive eggs.
- Sternum: ossified and well pronounced keel to provide attachment for flight muscles.
Compare reptile glands to bird glands.
Reptile: Fewer glands and all are granular (pheromones).
Bird: One large integumentary alveolar gland, and uropygial glands (secrete oil for feathers).
Compare reptile scales to bird scales.
Reptile:
- Well developed epidermal keratinized (horny) scales.
- Shed regularly.
- Functions: locomotion, protection.
Birds:
- Epidermal scales confined to places without feathers.
- Claws derived from scales.
- Beaks derived from scales.
- Feathers for locomotion and thermoregulation.
Describe the evolution of synapsids.
Pelycosaurs => Therapsids => Cynodonts => Mammals
Describe the early Pelycosaurs.
- Arose in late Carboniferous, radiated in early Permian.
- Dominant carnivores, some herbivores as well.
- Single temporal opening and posterior orbit.
What is the difference between carnivorous and herbivorous Pelycosaurs?
Carnivorous:
- Moderate size (0.5-3 m), large sail along the back.
- e.g. Dimitredon.
Herbivorous:
- Blunt teeth.
- Laterally expanded rib cage suggesting a large gut used in fermentation of plant material.
- e.g. Edaphosaurus
Describe early Therapsids.
- Evolved in early Permian and radiated in late Permian, replacing Pelycosaurs.
- Dominant until the end of the Triassic.
- Earliest forms displayed enlarged fenestrae and reduction of palatal teeth.
What are the two main groups of Therapsids?
- Dinocephalians
- Large animals with heavy skulls (head-butting).
- Began a trend towards more erect limbs. - Gorgonopsians
- Dominant carnivores of late-Permian after extinction of dinocephalians.
- Varied from dog to rhino-sized.
- More terrestrial than Pelycosaurs and greater diversity in body design.
Describe Cynodonts.
- Arose in late Permian, radiated mostly in Triassic.
- Changes in jaw muscles allowed chewing.
- Adductor differentiates into masseter and temporalis muscles, expand and invade larger areas of skull.
- Semi-erect hind limb closer to the body.
Describe early mammals.
- Arose in late Triassic from Cynodont ancestors.
- Small shrew-like animals in Jurassic and Cretaceous.
- Characteristics:
- Feed young milk from mammary glands.
- Extended parental care of young.
- Large brain to body size ratio.
- Hair
What are the two types of integument glands in mammals?
- Sebaceous glands: alveolar, oil secretion, often for hair. They waterproof hair and prevent thin skin from drying.
- Sweat glands: tubular, secret water, salt and urea. Used for thermoregulation.
What are the parts of the mammal middle ear?
Malleus, incus, and stapes.
What are the parts of the mammal lower jaw?
Only a single bone, the dentary.
What are the parts of the mammal jaw joint?
Dentary and squamosal bones.
What is the regional differentiation of vertebrae in mammals?
- Cervical: reduction of ribs, 7 cervial vertebrae, best at rotation.
- Thoracic: ribs.
- Lumbar: below ribs/no ribs attached.
- Sacral: articulate with pelvic girdle.
Caudal: presence of hemal arch (tail).
Describe the living group of mammals, Monotremes.
- Platypus and echidnas.
- Shair hair, endothermy and sucking of young with other mammals, but don’t have nipples or external ears, and lay eggs.