Reptiles Flashcards
What term is used to describe species that rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature?
Ectothermic
What is thermoregulation controlled by?
Hypothalamus
What are the advantages of being ectothermic?
- Less energy expendure for maintaining body temperature
- Less food requirements
- Ability to better survive hibernation and cool temperature at night
What are the disadvantages of being ectothermic?
- Activity is dependant on the ambient temperature
- Poor aerobic capacity
What is the preferred optimum temperature zone (PTOZ)?
20-38oC
Where would the kidneys be positioned in a reptile and how does this differ from mammals?
Sit more caudal in the pelvic canal region rather than the mid abdomen
True/False
Reptiles and fish have no diaphragm.
True
Therefore they have no clear abdominal and thoracic cavities
What is the name for the body cavity present in all reptiles and fish?
Coelomic cavity
What sits immediately behind the heart in lizards?
Liver
What shape is the stomach of a lizard?
J-shaped
What is autonomy?
The casting off of a body part
(e.g- the tail in lizards)
How many rows of teeth do snakes have?
6
(one on each lower jaw and two on each upper jaw)
What luck is either rudimentary or missing in snakes?
Left
What is the function of the cranial portion of the right lung in snakes?
- Vascularised function
- Gas exchange
What is the function of the caudal part of a snakes lung?
Has non-respiratory functions and functions mainly as an air sack
What organs may be fused in some species of snake?
Gall bladder, spleen and pancreas (splenopancreas)
Is the gall bladder attached to the liver in snakes?
No
Splenopancreas forms a little triad that is seperate from the liver
True/False?
The kidneys are lobulated in the snake.
True
Since snakes have no urinary bladder what do the ureters empty into?
Urodeum of the cloaca
How many hemipenes do snakes have?
2
Why are reptiles more prone to respiratory infections?
The primitive mucociliary lining is poor at cleaning debris
True/False
Snakes have a small lung size but have a larger surface area and more subdivision.
False
snakes have a large lung size but have a limited surface area and less subdivision
What effect does an increase in temp have on O2 demand?
Increases O2 demand
What is the name of the top of a chelonians shell?
Carpace