Reptiles Flashcards
What are the common features of the class Reptilia?
Ectothermic, have a backbone, breathe air, internal fertilization of the egg, covered in scales or scutes
Ectothermic means they rely on external sources for body heat.
What is the taxonomic classification of the Nile Crocodile?
Kingdom: Animalia, Order: Crocodylia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Family: Crocodylidae, Genus & Species: Crocodylus niloticus
The Nile crocodile is a prominent species within the Crocodylia order.
How many species of crocodiles are found in Africa?
Three species: Nile crocodile, African slender-snouted crocodile, dwarf crocodile
The Nile crocodile is the most widespread, while the others have more limited ranges.
What are the common features of the order Crocodylia?
Transparent nictitating membrane, short legs, olive-green to grey scales, yellow belly, black bands across the tail
The nictitating membrane helps protect the eyes while submerged.
The order Crocodylia includes.
crocodiles, caimans, alligators, and gavials
Fill in the blank: The Nile crocodile is found throughout Africa except at _______ altitudes and in the desert.
[high]
This indicates the habitat preferences of the Nile crocodile.
What is the maximum length a Nile crocodile can reach?
In excess of 6 m
40% of which is the tail
What is the maximum weight a Nile crocodile can reach?
Up to 1000 kg
Which gender of Nile crocodile is typically larger?
Males
What adaptation allows a Nile crocodile to keep its sensory organs above water?
Eyes, nose, and ears sit proud of the head
How does the jaw movement work in Nile crocodiles?
The upper jaw is fused with the skull; only the lower jaw moves independently
What is ‘mouth-gaping’ in Nile crocodiles?
Lifting the head to allow the bottom jaw to fall open when basking
Do Nile crocodiles have a vomeronasal organ?
No
How many teeth do Nile crocodiles typically have?
64 - 68 teeth
What type of tail do Nile crocodiles have?
Long, spear-shaped tail
What type of feet do Nile crocodiles have?
Webbed hind feet
What is the purpose of the oar-like tail in Nile crocodiles?
To move swiftly through water
How do Nile crocodiles absorb heat from the sun?
By lying on the bank with mouths agape
What is the primary habitat preference of Nile crocodiles?
Deep water and sand banks
Cape Cobra
1,6 m , males slightly larger
variable in colour- black to light yellow
diurnal
Diet: rodents, frogs, reptiles, fledglings
Drier areas of Southern Africa
Oviparous, up to 20 eggs
Highly venomous (mainly neurotoxic and also cytotoxic-, cardiotoxic) immobilises prey
Fixed front fangs
Snouted Cobra
2m, males slightly larger
Back: all shades of brown
Under parts: cream coloured with dark blotching
Black band across the throat
Diurnal
Diet: rodents, frogs, reptiles, young birds
Eastern and north-eastern parts of Southern Africa, warmer
Oviparous
Lift front body, spreads good
Highly potent neurotoxic
Fixed front fangs
Mosambique Spitting Cobra
1,5m, Males slightly larger
Back: grey to dark brown
Underbelly creamy with blotchy black bands across the throat
Nocturnal> diurnal
Diet: rodents, frogs, reptiles, young birds, other snakes
Near water, warmer climate
Oviparous
Spreads hood
Spitting venom over 2 m, deadly cytotoxic and neurotoxic—> intense pain, irritation to the eyes, blindness when not treated immediately ( flush the eyes with water an desk medical help)
Boomslang
2m
DIMORPHIC
female: charcoal black with narrow, cream bands on the back
Underbelly yellow with black bands across
male: green on back with scales outlined in black
underbelly varies from yellow to green
Eyes larg
Diurnal
Diet: birds and eggs, chameleons, frogs, lizards
Arboreal
oviparous, 8-25 eggs
Inflates it’s neck,
Deadly, haemotoxic venom, slow-acting
MOST VENOMOUS SNAKE
Back-fanged
Vine Snake
1,4m, thin
Mostly grey with black blotching
Bold black and red eye band
Diurnal
Reptiles, birds, chameleons
Arboreal
Oviparous , 20 eggs
Inflates it‘s neck
Deadly haemotoxic with no available anti-venom
Back-fanged
Black Mamba
Over 4m
Black mouth, coffin shaped head
Grey to brown on back,
Underside off-white to light grey
can move quickly (third or more of its body off the ground), very nervous snake
Diet: reptiles, warm-blooded animals up to rock hydra
Savanna, thickets and forests, on trees or ground
Oviparous, up to 17 eggs
Inflates neck
Injects large quantities of deadly, neurotoxic, fast- acting venom
Shield-nosed snake
Short cobra, 75 cm
M=females, but males have longer and wider heads and longer tails
Brown to reddish-brown on back
Throat white with black bands
Head brown to black with white blotches
Nocturnal
Diet: reptiles, frogs, rodents
Savanna, arid areas
Oviparous, up to 14 eggs
Spreads a small hood, hisses and strikes repeatedly at it‘s aggressor
Neurotoxic venom
Bites are rare
Shield-nosed snake
Short cobra, 75 cm
M=females, but males have longer and wider heads and longer tails
Brown to reddish-brown on back
Throat white with black bands
Head brown to black with white blotches
Nocturnal
Diet: reptiles, frogs, rodents
Savanna, arid areas
Oviparous, up to 14 eggs
Spreads a small hood, hisses and strikes repeatedly at it‘s aggressor
Neurotoxic venom
Bites are rare
Southern Stiletto Snake/ Bibron‘s Burrowing Asp
70cm, thick set snake
Dark brown to black on the back
Cream to dark brown belly
Short, blunt tail
Nocturnal
Diet: reptiles, frogs, rodents
Central and northern parts of Southern Africa ( except coastal areas of Namibia)
Live under logs and rocks or termite mounds
Oviparous, less than 10 eggs
Coils up and repeatedly strikes sideways
Backward facing fangs—> take care when grasping it behind the head
Non-lethal cytotoxic, can cause pain and necrosis, often resulting in amputation
Puff Adder
Thick-set snake, up to 1,4m
Males smaller an thinner
Females have a longer tail
Cryptic colours on the back from tan, brown or grey to black/ dark brown
Head distinctly triangular
Diurnal
Diet: small mammals, reptiles, frogs
Often sunning on pathways
Viviparous , live young are born 15-20cm long
Inflates it’s body, strong hissing warning sound
Deadly cytotoxic, causing major necrosis
Southern African Python
Heavily build snake, up to 4-5 m in Southern Africa, 6 m further north
Females > males
Cryptical markings in brown, grey and black on the back,
Belly dirty white
Spear- shaped, row. Marking on head
Nocturnal
Diet: various mammals up to impala, small crocodiles, monitor lizards, birds
Smaller ones live on the ground, later become arboreal , over 1,5m they are to tall to hunt in trees
Oviparous, up to 100 eggs in an underground cavity , female coils herself around the eggs during incubation (about 3 months), does not eat during incubation
Prey caught in wide jaws, held by recurved teeth, snake coils around victim, constriction causes heart failure
Common (eastern) Tiger Snake
1m
Orange with dark bands on back
Underbelly yellow/ light orange
Large eyes with vertical pupils
Nocturnal
Under rocks and fallen trees
Arboreal and terrestrial
Diet: lizards, small birds, rodents
Oviparous, up to 25 eggs, about 3 month to hatch
Flattens head, coils back into a threatening striking posture
Madelyn venomous
Spotted Bush Snake
Slender snake, over a meter
Easily confused with a boomslang, but harmless
Green/olive-green with black barring and spotting on the front two-thirds, caudal area free of markings
Diurnal
Forrest, woodland, savanna
Arboreal
Diet: tree-frogs, chameleons, geckos
Oviparous, up to 12 eggs
Inflates their necks
Mildeley venomous
Mole snake
Robust, 2m
Variable colouration: silver grey, light to dark brown, black on the back
Underbelly off-white to cream
Hooked nose
Diurnal
Live underground
Diet: moles, rodents and small mammals
Viviparous, 25-50 live youngs (up to 90)
Deep hissing noise
Non venomous, but nasty bites
Angolan green snake
Up to 1,2m
Emerald green with dark spotting above
Uniform yellow-green below
Diurnal
Delta, riverine northern Botswana,eastern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique
Diet: chameleons, lizards, small birds, frogs
Oviparous, 16 eggs
No venom
