Reptiles Flashcards
1
Q
Do reptiles have internal or external fertilisation?
A
Internal.
2
Q
What allowed reptiles to be independent of an aquatic environment?
A
Amniotic eggs.
3
Q
What kind of skin do reptiles have?
A
A dry scaly skin.
4
Q
When did reptiles appear on land?
A
Approximately 350 million years ago. Largest land mammals for 200 million years.
5
Q
How did many amphibians become extinct?
A
They lost out in competition with reptiles.
6
Q
How many species of lizards are there in Grenada?
A
8-9.
7
Q
How many species of turtle are there in Grenada?
A
5.
8
Q
How many species of tortoise are there in Grenada?
A
1.
9
Q
How many species of snakes are there in Grenada?
A
6.
10
Q
Is the common iguana nocturnal or diurnal?
A
Diurnal.
11
Q
What is the scientific name for the common iguana?
A
Iguana iguana.
12
Q
What do common iguanas normally eat?
A
Omnivorous - mangoes, prickly pear, vegetation and sometimes eggs (birds), and carrion.
13
Q
What kind of habitat does the common iguana live in?
A
Prefer xeric (dry) habitats but can be found in mesic (moist.)
14
Q
How many eggs do females lay in a clutch?
A
They lay up to 45 eggs in April and May.
15
Q
Are reptiles ectothermic?
A
Yes.
16
Q
What are the characteristics of iguanas?
A
Young iguanas are bright lime green.
Adults are typically shades of grey with banded tail.
Groom (1970) states that they can reach 5’ in length.
17
Q
What age do female common iguanas mature?
A
Around 3 years old.
18
Q
How long does it take for iguana eggs to hatch?
A
14 weeks.
19
Q
Are common iguanas often hunted in Grenada?
A
Yes.
20
Q
What is the scientific name of the Garmans ground lizard?
A
Ameiva ameiva
21
Q
Is the Garmans ground lizard nocturnal or diurnal?
A
Diurnal.
22
Q
Is the Garmans ground lizard native to Grenada?
A
Yes.
23
Q
What is the Garmans ground lizard preyed upon by?
A
Mongoose and cats.
24
Q
What do Garmans ground lizards look like?
A
Males are brilliant blue while females are brown with buff side stripes.
25
What is the Garmans ground lizards range?
Species range includes Trinidad and Tobago and Panama through Brazil.
26
What is the scientific name of the Garmans ground lizard that is found in Grenada and St Vincent?
Ameiva ameiva tobagana
27
What does the Garmans ground lizard eat?
Omnivorous: insects, young anoles, small mammals, beetles, crickets, snails and some seeds and vegetation
28
Where does the Garmans ground lizard lay their eggs?
May lay eggs in burrows or in depression in the ground
29
What is the scientific name for the common wall lizard?
Anolis aeneus.
30
What are the characteristics of the common wall lizard?
Grey, green or brown coloration with mottled darker brown blotches or spots.
Throat fan or dewlap is whitish to duller green.
SVL = 77mm. (3 inches).
Significantly smaller than Anoles richardii.
31
What is the distribution of the common wall lizard in Grenada?
Ubiquitous in distribution across Grenada in both xeric and mesic habitats.
32
How does the common wall lizard capture its prey?
Capturing prey involves watching from an elevated perch followed by sprints to capture prey and return to perch.
33
Which lizard will Will congregate with other lizards to forage where food or prey is plentiful?
The common wall lizard.
34
What are the predators of the common wall lizard?
Predators include: tree boas, grackles, cattle egrets, other Anolis lizards (both species), cats etc.
35
What are the breeding characteristics of the common wall lizard?
Seasonal breeder.
Courtship displays involve a lot of head bobbing and fan displays.
Eggs will be laid in moist soil but will be retained if soil is not moist.
Females lay a single egg every 12 days or so and are laid in the female’s territory.
Hatchlings emerge from August to December 1 inch or so in length (SVL).
36
What is the scientific name of the crested or tree lizard?
Anolis richardii.
37
Which lizards population decreases with elevation?
The crested or tree lizard.
38
Is the crested or tree lizard diurnal or nocturnal?
Diurnal.
39
What are the aggressive territorial displays made by the crested or tree lizard?
Huffing.
Dewlap extended.
Stretching out.
Tail up and lashing.
Intense bobbing.
40
What does the crested or tree lizard eat?
Omnivorous: variety of insects as well as berries, snails, worms other anoles, eggs, some vegetation.
41
Of which lizard is little known about its reproduction cycle?
The crested or tree lizard. Probably similar to the anolis aeuneus.
42
What are the predators of the tree or crested lizard?
Predators include: broad-winged hawk, tree boas, egrets, etc.
43
Which lizard does well in human dominated and mediated habitats?
The crested or tree lizard.
44
What family does the South Antillean Slippery Back Lizard belong to?
Skinks.
45
What is the scientific name of the South Antillean Slippery Back Lizard?
Mabuya mabouya OR (Mabuya bistriata).
46
What does a skink look like?
Skinks have very short legs and no defined neck. Some skinks have no legs at all and look and move like snakes.
47
What does a skink eat?
Slugs, snails, some rodents.
48
Of which reptile is virtually nothing known about?
Skinks.
49
Are skinks diurnal or nocturnal?
Diurnal.
50
Where do skinks tend to live?
Xeric habitat: dry shrub coastal woodlands.
51
What do skinks tend to eat?
Insects.
52
How do skinks re-produce?
Reproduction: viviparous (bearing live young) 3-5 embryos per gravid female.
53
The populations of which reptile in the Grenadines, including Grenada, are in question re: which species they belong to?
Skinks.
54
What is the family of Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu?
Gymnophthalmidae.
55
What is the scientific name of Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu?
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi.
56
What is the range of Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu?
West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, northern South America.
57
What is the habitat of Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu?
Sandy coastal woodlands just off the beach in leaf litter and trees, dry forest leaf litter.
Grenada found in lowland dry forests.
Semi-fossorial.
58
What is Parthenogenesis?
Female egg develops without fertilization by sperm.
59
Which lizard has Parthenogenesis?
Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu.
60
What does the Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu eat?
Forages for small invertebrates on the forest floor.
Small insects, and larvae…ants and termites.
61
What predators prey on the Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu?
Domestic and feral cats, hawks, and other larger birds, chickens.
62
Which lizards are terrific colonisers?
Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu.
63
Which lizard has low genetic diversity?
Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu.
64
How long does it take Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu eggs to hatch?
4-6 eggs laid in June in leaf litter or loose soil
| Young emerge 61+ days later.
65
What does the Underwood’s Spectacled Tegu look like?
SVL to 64 mm (2.5 inches), but tail can be almost twice the length of the body.
Reduced limbs with 4 digits on front limbs and 2 on hind limbs.
Body is covered with large scales that overlap each other.
66
What is the range of the bachia bicolor?
Grenada Bank…also in Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela.
67
What is the habitat of the bachia bicolor?
Habitat: rotting logs and rotting leaf litter, moist mulch-like vegetative material.
68
What does the bachia bicolour eat?
Insects and insect larvae.
69
What is the family of the gekko?
Gekkonidae.
70
What is the scientific name of the gekko?
Hemidactylus mabouia.
71
What is the range of the gekko?
Across the West Indies, South and Central America and Mexico and across Africa (native range).
72
Which lizard was likely introduced during the slave trade?
Gekkos.
73
Which lizard is associated with human habitation and distributed around the world by same?
Gekkos.
74
Are geckos nocturnal or diurnal?
Nocturnal.
75
Which lizards communicate by clicking vocalisations?
Gekkos.
76
Which lizard has a tail that breaks off and lays twitching on the ground/floor…keeps predators focused on tail while it escapes?
Gekkos.
77
What do geckos eat?
Insects.
78
What preys on geckos?
Larger birds, snakes, larger anoles.
79
How do geckos reproduce?
Lays 3 - 4 eggs may be is a communal laying site.
80
Where can geckos be found in Grenada?
In rock crevices, holes in walls, under rocks in woods on Hog Island.
81
What is the family of the Turnip-tailed Gecko?
Phyllodactylidae.
82
What is the scientific name of the Turnip-tailed Gecko?
Thecadactylus rapicauda.
83
What is the range of the turnip tailed gecko?
Southern Lesser Antilles and South and Central America.
84
What does a turnip tailed gecko look like?
Eyes are spaced far apart with elliptical pupils.
Tiny hooks on adhesive toe pads.
Stubby tail which is in a bent position when animal is resting.
Often solid greenish brown colour.
85
Are turnip tailed geckos nocturnal or diurnal?
Nocturnal.
86
What do turnip tailed geckos eat?
Mainly insects but also young anoles.
87
Of which lizard is there a Irrational fear that animal will stay attached if it falls on a person…so, is removed by applying hot iron or cigarettes…which causes animal to die?
Turnip tailed gecko.
88
Which lizard makes a loud chirping noise?
Turnip tailed gecko.
89
Which is larger the house gecko or Turnip tailed gecko?
Turnip tailed gecko.
90
Which lizard has only one species identified in the genus?
Turnip tailed gecko.
91
Which lizard uses its tail for fat storage?
Turnip tailed gecko.
92
What colour is the Turnip tailed gecko?
Color range from grey to a burnt orange.
Able to change colors to match environment.
93
What does viviparous mean?
Bears live young.
94
How many venomous snakes are there on Grenada?
None.
95
What do snakes eat?
Snakes are exclusively carnivorous.
96
What order are snakes?
Squamata.
97
What is the family of the tree boa?
Boidae.
98
What is the scientific name of the tree boa?
Corallus grenadensis.
99
What is the scientific name of the black cribo?
Clelia clelia.
100
What is the scientific name of the Shaws racer?
Leophis melanotus.
101
What is the family of the black cribo?
Dipsadidae.
102
What is the family name of the Shaws racer?
Dipsadidae.
103
What is the family name of the Boddaert’s tree snake?
Colubridae.
104
What is the scientific name of the Boddaert’s tree snake?
Mastigodryas brusei.
105
What is the family name of the Neuweid’s moon snake?
Colubridae.
106
What is the scientific name of the Neuweid’s moon snake?
Pseudoboa neuweidi.
107
What is the family of the Grenada blind snake?
Typhlopidae.
108
What is the scientific name of the Grenada blind snake?
Typhlops tasymicris.
109
What snakes are endemic to the Grenada bank?
Tree boa.
Grenada Blind snake.
Boddaert’s tree snake.
Black Cribo.
110
Which snake apparently only survives on Grenada?
Black cribo.
111
Which non endemic snakes are found on Grenada?
Shaws racer.
Neuweids moon snake.
112
Which snake has not been seen on Grenada since 1883?
Neuweids moon snake.
113
Which snake was possibly never in Grenada but is still found in Trinidad, and South America?
Shaws racer.
114
Is the Grenada tree boa nocturnal or diurnal?
Nocturnal.
115
How long can the tree boa grow up to?
6 feet.
116
Where does the Grenada tree boa live?
In trees. It is arboreal.
Dry thorn/scrub habitat to mangrove habitat to rain forest habit up to about 525 m. to agricultural areas.
Smaller snakes tend to be in dry thorn/scrub habitat and larger snakes in fruit trees, mangroves and rainforest.
117
How does the Grenada tree boa give birth to its young?
Viviparous reproduction. Approximately 20 born June-Nov
118
What does the Grenada tree boa eat?
Eats lizards when young and resides in drier, lower elevations.
Eats small mammals, lizards, amphibians when older and moves to higher elevation.
119
Which snake is an excellent rat catcher?
The Grenada tree boa.
120
Which snake “Hangs” out during the day sleeping with end of tail wrapped around branch…in mangroves over water …in forest under overspreading leaves?
The Grenada tree boa.
121
How does the Grenada tree boa defend itself?
Emits a musky odor as defense when handled also uses crypsis (defensive camouflage coloration) and will bite if threatened.
122
What predators does the Grenada tree boa have?
Feral cats, opossums, mongoose.
123
What conservation status does the Grenada tree boa have?
Numbers are declining in some areas.
124
What does the black cribo eat?
Forages on the ground for rodents.
125
At what time of day is the black cribo active?
Day and night.
126
How long can the black cribo grow?
Up to 3m.
127
How does the black cribo reproduce?
By laying eggs.
128
Where does the Boddaert’s Tree Snake live?
In trees. Likes moist habitat.
129
Is the Boddaert’s Tree Snake nocturnal or diurnal?
Diurnal.
130
What reproduction does the Boddaert’s Tree Snake have?
Viviparous.
131
What size is the Boddaert’s Tree Snake?
830 mm.
132
What does the Boddaert’s Tree Snake eat?
Frogs and lizards.
133
What is the species name for the red footed tortoise?
Chelonoidis carbonaria.
134
What is the family of tortoises?
Testudinae.
135
What is the habitat of tortoises?
Dry scrub habitat to forested areas as well as grasslands.
136
What is the diet of the red footed tortoise?
Omnivorous—fruit, flowers, leaves, other vegetation and carrion.
137
Is the red footed tortoise diurnal or nocturnal?
Diurnal.
138
What predators does the red footed tortoise have?
Humans, rats, mongoose.
139
What are the differences between the male and female red footed tortoise?
Males have a longer tail and are less colourful. Males carapace length tends to be 60cm whereas females are 40cm.
140
What is the range of the red footed tortoise?
Panama, Columbia, through Brazil and Argentina and numerous West Indian islands.
141
How does the red footed tortoise mate?
Oviparous: Up to 12 eggs laid in apr. 20 cm hole.
Take about 3 months to hatch (Groome 1970).
Hatchlings = 2 inches at hatching.
142
Is the red footed tortoise currently extinct in the wild in Grenada?
Yes.
143
What size is the leatherback turtle?
3m.
144
What is the scientific name of the leatherback turtle?
Dermochelys coriacea.
145
What do leatherback turtles eat?
Primarily soft-bodied animals like jellyfish
146
How do leatherback turtles reproduce?
Solitary nesters.
Females have numerous clutches per season.
Approximately 100 eggs per clutch.
Incubation: 60-65 days.
Nest on sandy, tropical beaches.
147
Where is the primary beach in Grenada for leatherbacks?
Levera beach and Grand Anse.
Nest protection is critical.
148
When is the leatherback mating season?
Nesting season; late spring through early fall.
