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A&P 110, 112 > Reptiles 🐊 > Flashcards

Reptiles 🐊 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 orders that reptiles are split into?

A
  1. Sphenodontia / Rhynchocephalia
  2. Crocodilia
  3. Chelonia
  4. Squamata
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2
Q

What types of species are assigned to each of the 4 orders of reptiles?

A
  1. Sphenodontia = Tuatara
  2. Crocodilia = alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharials
  3. Chelonia = turtles, tortoises
  4. Squamata = lizards, snakes
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3
Q

Which orders of reptiles have 3-chambered hearts, vs. 4-chambered hearts? 🫀

A

3-chambered = Sphenodontia, Chelonia, Squamata

4-chambered = Crocodilia

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4
Q

Do reptiles have a diaphragm?

A

Most do not - ONLY crocodilians!

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5
Q

What are the 3 compartments of the reptilian cloaca?

A

coprodeum, urodeum, proctodeum

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6
Q

Which reptiles have a bladder vs. do not?

A

Lizards + chelonians DO have a bladder; Snakes + crocodilians DO NOT.

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7
Q

What happens to a reptile during ecdysis?

A

The reptile sheds its scales / plates.

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8
Q

What does it mean to be “ectothermic?”

A

Cold-blooded; body temp is dependent on external environment temp; must get heat from external environment.

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9
Q

What does PBT mean?

A

Preferred Body Temp.

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10
Q

Why is it important for a reptile to maintain its PBT?

A

Must be in PBT to perform all necessary metabolic functions.

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11
Q

What is the benefit of being ectothermic?

A

Highly efficient in conserving energy.

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12
Q

Oviparous vs. Ovoviviparous?

A

Oviparous = lays eggs
Ovoviviparous = eggs hatch inside, resembles live birth

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13
Q

Why shouldn’t you give a reptile an injection of meds in the caudal / bottom half of their body length?

A

They have a renal portal system, so the meds will be filtered out of the blood by the kidneys before circulation.

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14
Q

What does it mean to have acrodont teeth?

A

Teeth are fused to the margin of the jaw bone.

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15
Q

Which species have acrodont teeth?

A

Tuataras, Chameleons

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16
Q

What is unique about the Tuatara’s sense of hearing?

A

They have no external ear opening, so sound is heard through bone.

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17
Q

What is a parietal eye?

A

Considered the “third eye” or pineal eye, because it is attached to the pineal gland. It is a sensory organ thought to have light/dark-mediated hormone control. Full function is still unknown.

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18
Q

What is the general anatomy of the Tuatara’s “rib cage?”

A

They have “Gastralia” or abnormal, “floating” ribs made of mostly cartilage with no spinal attachment.

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19
Q

Why / when does a reptile go through ecdysis?

A

When they are growing, or in response to an injury.

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20
Q

Crocodilians are thecodonts. What does this mean?

A

Their teeth arise from sockets in their skull.

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21
Q

What happens when a crocodilian breaks or loses a tooth?

A

The tooth is replaced/grown back.

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22
Q

What is special about a crocodilian’s “semi erect” posture?

A

Their legs are beneath their body, allowing them to stand & run on land.

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23
Q

What physical feature allows a crocodilian to safely & effectively hunt while submerged in water?

A

Their secondary palate, separating their nasal cavity and mouth = ability to open mouth underwater without drowning.

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24
Q

Do crocodilians have a bladder?

A

Nope!

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25
What is the function and significance of the "foramen of Panizza" in crocodilians?
It acts like a valve when holding their breath, shunting blood from pulmonary circulation to the rest of the body - allowing them to stay submerged underwater for long periods of time.
26
What is the general anatomy of the crocodilian heart?
It has 4 chambers and 2 aortas; R aorta attaches to L ventricle, while the L aorta attaches to the R ventricle.
27
Describe the crocodilian stomach.
2 chambers: 1. contains gastroliths for grinding food 2. highly acidic, capable of digesting bones
28
What is the significance of the dermal pressure receptors in crocodilians?
They can sense vibrations, and sense when something swims by in the water.
29
Where are dermal pressure receptors located in crocodiles vs. alligators/caiman?
crocodiles = jaws + scales alligators, caiman = jaws only
30
What 3 structures are found in crocodilian skin?
1. scales 2. osteoderms / bone plates 3. osteoscutes
31
How can you differentiate between crocodiles and alligators?
crocodiles = narrow/longer head shape + visible 4th lower teeth + fringed rear limbs alligators = wide/short head shape + 4th lower teeth hidden + no fringe on rear limbs
32
What are osteoderms?
Bony plates under scales
33
Which three animals are classified as "chelonia?"
turtles, tortoises, terrapins
34
What 4 structures make up a chelonian's shell?
Carapace, plastron, bridges, and scutes.
35
What is the difference between a carapace & a plastron?
carapace = top shell plastron = bottom shell
36
What is unique about the chelonian skeleton?
~60 bones are fused into its shell + appendicular bones are in a vertical position
37
What kind of heart does a chelonian have?
3-chambered heart
38
What is the pathway for blood in a chelonian?
deoxygenated blood flows to R. atrium > through valve > into single ventricle > into lungs > becomes oxygenated > into L. atrium > into single ventricle > through aortic arches OR back to lungs
39
Describe how a turtle breathes?
Shell prevents expansion, so as air is taken in, pressure within cavity increases, causing limbs & internal muscles to move/change.
40
What is the significance of the chelonian nares?
Chelonians cannot mouth-breathe = must breathe through nares.
41
During dissection, where can you find a chelonian's lungs?
Lungs are located dorsally, alongside carapace.
42
How can you tell a chelonian's diet based on their mouths?
1. carnivores have sharp beaks, for sheering flesh. 2. herbivores have serrated beaks, for cutting at vegetation.
43
Do chelonians have a bladder?
Yes, thin-walled bladder located in front of cloaca.
44
How would you describe a chelonian's stomach, small intestine, and colon?
stomach = transverse small intestine = short colon = short, ends at cloaca
45
How can you tell a male turtle from a female turtle just by looking at it?
Males have a concave plastron, longer gular scutes, a longer/thicker tail, and their cloaca is more distal.
46
What are the names + numbers of scutes on a tortoise's carapace?
1 nuchal scute 1-5 vertebral scutes 1-4 right pleural scutes 1-4 left pleural scutes 1-12 right marginal scutes 1-12 left marginal scutes
47
What are the names + numbers of scutes on a terrapin's plastron?
1 intergular R + L gular R + L humeral R + L pectoral R + L abdominal R + L femoral R + L anal
48
When referring to the shell of a chelonian, what are "bridges?"
Bridge = connects the carapace to the plastron.
49
Which animals make up the order "Squamata?"
snakes + lizards
50
What is "autotomy?"
When a lizard loses its tails, or drops it to run away.
51
What is "parthenogenesis?"
Parthenogenesis = when a female animal lays fertile eggs without the help of a male's sperm.
52
How does a lizard typically experience ecdysis?
They shed skin in segments.
53
How does a chameleon change color?
3 layers of chromatophores in dermis change color.
54
How can geckoes cling to virtually any surface?
Setae, or hairs on feet utilize electrostatic charges to stick to surfaces.
55
Describe a lizard's auditory anatomy?
They have tympanic membranes on the outside, connected to Columella within - except chameleons!
56
What makes chameleon eyes unique?
Most lizards have eyelids to blink. Chameleons do not have eyelids; their eyes are fused with tiny openings.
57
What kind of hearts do lizards have?
3-chambered hearts.
58
Where can you draw blood from a lizard?
Ventral abdominal vein, or ventral tail vein.
59
Do lizards have a diaphragm?
NO, they do not - except for the Tegu lizard, which has an incomplete diaphragm = "Protodiaphragm"
60
What is significant about a lizard's axial muscles?
The axial muscles allow rib expansion for breathing.
61
What does it mean when a lizard has plurodont teeth?
Their teeth are on a bone shelf, NOT in sockets.
62
What is Jacobson's Organ?
Vomeronasal organ, or specialized sense organ used to detect scents.
63
Describe the reproductive anatomy of male vs. female lizards?
Males have hemipenes; Females have oviduct only, NO uterus.
64
How does the reproductive anatomy of female lizards impact their egg laying?
Eggs laid are soft & squishy shelled, because they only have oviducts, NO uterus.
65
How can you tell a female lizard from a male lizard?
Females are brighter & larger than males. Both have crests, dewlaps, femoral pores, and pre-anal pores.
66
Describe a snake's jaw anatomy, and why is it significant?
Snakes have a kinetic jaw with 2 joints, and their mandibular symphysis is connected with elastic ligaments and quadrate bones = allowing wide 180º opening of their mouths.
67
How many vertebrae do snakes have?
Varies, depends on length of snake. Typically 150 - 400 vertebrae.
68
What are the 4 forms of locomotion in snakes?
1. serpentine 2. rectilinear 3. sidewinding 4. concertina
69
Which form of locomotion does a tree-climbing snake use?
Concertina
70
Which form of locomotion is the most common among snakes?
Serpentine
71
Which form of locomotion do bigger, heavier snakes use?
Rectilinear
72
Describe how a snake sheds its skin?
They shed in one piece.
73
What is a snake's spectacle?
Clear, fused scale on each eye.
74
What is the difference between the scales on the dorsal and ventral aspects of a snake?
Dorsal has segments (smooth or keeled) and ventral has long scutes.
75
What is the function of the pits on a snake's face?
They are infrared pits, used to detect heat.
76
Why isn't my pet snake eating this frozen feeder rat?
It needs to be warmed up & dried off prior to feeding, otherwise the snake might not realize it's food.
77
Describe a snake's auditory anatomy?
They do NOT have a tympanic membrane, only a Columella bone under its skin.
78
Describe a snake's olfactory sense?
They use their Jacobson's organ to "taste" smells = use their tongue to pull a scent into their mouth for contact with Jacobson's organ.
79
What kind of heart does a snake have?
3-chambered heart, that can move out of the way whenever food is ingested.
80
Describe a snake's respiratory system?
Right lung is the main lung; Left is vestigal and useless. Air goes through gas exchange in cranial right lung tissue, then is stored in its caudal air sac. Ribs can move to let air in.
81
Do snakes have a bladder?
NO, they excrete uric acid through the urodeum and out of their cloaca.
82
Where can you find the gonads of a snake?
Right cranial aspect of the posterior portion of the snake, within coelomic cavity.
83
Which types of reproduction do female snakes participate in?
Viviparous or Oviparous.
84
What are anatomical differences between male vs. female snakes?
Males have thicker, longer tails and a hemipenes. Females are typically larger than males.
85
You probe a snake, and the probe only goes about 1-2 scutes cranial. Is this snake male or female?
Female. If it were male, it would travel 9-15 scutes.

A&P 110, 112 (3 decks)

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