Reptiles Flashcards
what are reptiles?
adapted for terrestrial life, no aquatic larva
amniotes- lay eggs encased in calcium carbonate shell
keratinized epidermal scales and dermal scutes
internal fertilization- hemipenis and coitus
true calws on toes. limbs present or vestigial
ectothermic 3 chambered heart (except crocodile)
12 pairs cranial nerves unlike amphibians (10)
teeth and fangs (venom glands) for prey capture jacobson’s organ and pit-organs
total of _________ species of reptiles in the philippines
about ________ are endemic or with _______ endemism
257 species
189 endemic with 74% endemism
turtles with ___ species in ___ families
lizards with ____ species in ___ families
snakes with ____ species in ___ families
turtles- 12 spp; 4
lizards- 122 spp; 5
snakes- 101 spp; 8
Order crocodylia
Crocodilian body form
Semi-aquatic, efficient predator design: Crocodiles and alligators are adapted to life in both water and on land, and are efficient predators.
Tapered head and snout: Their heads and snouts are tapered, which helps them to catch prey in water.
Narrower than Alligators & Caimans, but not as narrow as Gavials: The snouts of crocodiles are narrower than those of alligators and caimans, but not as narrow as those of gavials.
4th tooth protrude above upper jaw: In crocodiles, the fourth tooth on the lower jaw protrudes above the upper jaw.
Alligators teeth do not protrude, in Gavials all protrude: In alligators, the teeth do not protrude above the upper jaw, while in gavials, all of the teeth protrude.
Well armoured, body covered with scutes & bony plates of osteoderm: Crocodiles and alligators have thick, armored skin that protects them from predators and the environment.
Mound nest incubation-parental care: They build mound nests and provide parental care for their eggs.
4-chambered heart: They have a four-chambered heart, which allows them to maintain a high body temperature.
Acute hearing, lacks Jacobson’s organ: They have excellent hearing, but lack the Jacobson’s organ, which is a sensory organ found in many reptiles.
Nocturnal, slit-like pupils glow fuchsia: Crocodiles and alligators are primarily nocturnal, and their slit-like pupils glow fuchsia in the dark.
Family crocodylidae
Estaurine or indo-pacific- _______________________
largest in the world at 7-10m coastal areas. large river estuary small cervial armoured plates
Crocodylus porosus (saltwater crocodile)
most endangered in the world small at less than 3 m inland rivers and lakes fewer large cervical armoured plates
Crocodylus mindorensis (philippine crocodile)
Order testudinata
Turtle body form
Solid anapsid skull (most primitive group of reptiles): Turtles have a solid skull that lacks openings, which is a characteristic of the most primitive group of reptiles.
Lacks teeth but has horny beaks (tomium): Turtles do not have teeth, but instead have horny beaks that they use to bite and chew food.
Dorsal Carapace & ventral Plastron covered with scutes: Turtles have a hard, bony shell that is made up of two parts: the dorsal carapace and the ventral plastron. These parts are covered with scutes, which are overlapping plates of keratin.
Terrestrial forms with pillar-like legs - tortoises: Tortoises are land-dwelling turtles that have thick, pillar-like legs that are well-suited for walking on land.
Semi-aquatic turtles have flat limbs with claws - terrapins: Terrapins are semi-aquatic turtles that have flattened limbs with claws that help them to swim and climb.
Aquatic freshwater turtles with a fleshy shell - softshells: Softshell turtles are aquatic turtles that have a soft, leathery shell.
Marine turtles with modified limbs into flippers: Sea turtles are marine turtles that have modified their limbs into flippers, which are paddle-shaped appendages that help them to swim.
turtle’s shell
Dorsal carapace-
Ventral plastron-
vertebra & ribs
- nuchal & pygal scutes
- vertebral scutes
- costals scutes
- marginals scutes
gastralia
- gular scutes
- humeral scutes
- pectoral scutes
- abdominal scutes
- femoral scutes
- anal scutes
Family emydidae
freshwater turtles
Cuora amboinensis (Malayan freshwater turtle)
Cyclemys dentata (Malay leaf turtle)
Heosemys leytensis (Philippine pond turtle)
Heosemys spinosus (Spiny pond turtle)
Family dermochelyidae
Marine turtles
Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle)
Family chelonidae
Marine turtles
Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle)
Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle)
Philippine sea turtles
Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle)
Chelonia mydas (Green sea turtle)
Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle)
Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle)
Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley turtle)
Order squamata- lacertilia
Lizard body form
skinks
geckos
agamid lizards
monitors
Order squamata
Head scalation and scale counts
Fused or unfused scales - anal & occipital: The scales on the anal and occipital regions of the head can be fused together or separate.
Paired scales in contact or not - parietals: The parietal scales on the top of the head can be paired and in contact with each other, or they can be separate.
Number of scale borders - labials & supraoculars: The number of scale borders on the labial (lip) and supraocular (above the eyes) scales can be counted.
Head scales present or absent - nuchal: The presence or absence of the nuchal scale on the back of the neck can be noted.
Number ventral and subcaudal scales: The number of ventral scales on the underside of the body and subcaudal scales on the underside of the tail can be counted.
Number of Mid-body scales: The number of scales around the mid-body can be counted.
Number of anal and femoral pores: The number of anal pores on the underside of the tail and femoral pores on the thighs can be counted.
Family dibamidae
Blind earless legless skink (Dibamus argentatus)
Family Scincidae
Total ____ species
_________ prominent
Tail autonomy
Varied habits
______ or _______ scales
65 species
head scalation
keeled or unkeeled
examples of skinks and dibamid skinks:
brachmeles
mabuya
tropidophorus
sphenomorphus
Family Gekkonidae
geckos
total ____ species
digits with ______and ____
no eyelids
tail autonomy
femoral and anal pores
35 spp
scansors and claws
Family agamidae
Dragons and flying lizards
total _____ species
______,______
______, gular flap, sailfins
metachrosis
17 spp
territorial, dimorphic
frills
Family varanidae
Monitor lizards
total 4 species
forked tongue
frugivorous and carnivorous
largest lizards
11 species of varanidae
Varanus bitatawa
Varanus mabitang
Varanus olivaceus
Varanus bangonorum
Varanus cumingi
Varanus dalubhasa
Varanus marmoratus
Varanus nuchalis
Varanus palawanensis
Varanus rasmusseni
Varanus samarensis
limbless, vestigial girdles (spur in python)
no movable eyelids and external eardrums
forked tongue and jacobson’s organ
order squamata- ophidia
snake body form
