Reptiles Flashcards
What is a reptile?
Any amniote vertebrate (ie., a vertebrate in
which the embryo develops inside an amniotic sac) that is not a bird or a mammal
Class Crocidilia
Two species of Australian crocodile: the saltwater crocodile and the freshwater
crocodile, of a total of 23 species worldwide. Both of the Australian species
belong to the Family Crocodylidae, one of three families within the Crocodilia.
Class Testudinata
The Australian turtles belong to four families, out of about 12 families worldwide.
Family Cheloniidae. Sea turtles: five species in Australian waters, out of six species worldwide
Family Dermatochelyidae: Leatherback sea turtle: one species internationally, occurring in
Australian waters.
Family Carettochelyidae: Pitted-shelled turtle: one species, restricted to tropical Australia and
southern New Guinea rivers.
Family Chelidae: Snake-necked turtles: 26 species in Australia, of about 60 species worldwide.
The first three families are all hidden-necked turtles (Order Cryptodira): the head is drawn under the
shell in a verticall-oriented S-bend, so that the neck is not visible. All of the Australian cryptodires are
aquatic and have limbs developed into flippers
The family Chelidae is one of two families of side-necked turtles (Order
Pleurodira). All the Australian pleurodires have clawed feet, with some webbing between the toes,and are aquatic in freshwater environments.
Class Lepidosauria
Lizards, snakes and tuataras
The Lepidosauria contains two major lineages, one of which, the Rhynchocephalia) is only represented by the two species of Tuarata of New Zealand
The second lineage, the Squamata, includes both lizards and snakes. Snakes
have evolved from within the lizard part of the lineage, so can be thought of as highly specialised
lizards
Lizard families within Australia
Family Agamidae (Dragon Lizards)
Front and hind limbs present and well-developed, distal ends of digits clawed, not ending in pads;
lower eyelid thick, scaly and moveable; scales small, and granular or spinose; tongue broad and fleshy.
Family Gekkonidae (Geckos)
Front and hind limbs present
and well-developed; distal ends of digits clawed, and often ending in dilated pads; lower eyelid forming an immoveable clear scale (a spectacle) covering the eye; scales small and granular; tongue broad, fleshy.
Family Pygopodidae ( flap-footed lizards) No external traces of front limbs; hind limbs reduced to a pair of small flattened flaps on either side of the vent, lacing obvious digits or claws externally; lower eyelid forming an immoveable clear scale (a spectacle) covering the eye; scales large, overlapping; scaled on ventral surface of body, if enlarged, in two rows; tongue broad, fleshy.
Family Scincidae (Skinks) Limbs varying from well-developed to absent externally; if limbs are present, digits clawed, not ending in pads; lower eyelid varying from thick, scaly and moveable to an immoveable clear scale covering the eye; scales large, overlapping, each with a core of bone (osteoderm); tongue broad, fleshy.
Family Varanidae (Goannas or Monitor Lizards)
Front and hind limbs well-developed; distal ends of digits clawed, not ending in pads; lower eyelid
thick, scaly, moveable; scales small, granular to spinose; tongue long slender and forked, like a
snake.
Family Typhlopidae (Blind Snakes or Worm Snakes)
Eyes sunk below thickened scales, visible as black spots only; no external traces of limbs; ventral
scales on body no larger than adjacent scales; tail very short, thick and blunt, but with a small
thorn-like terminal scale.
These are burrowing species that feed on ants.
Non-venomous.
Family Pythonidae (Pythons)
Eyes obvious; a pair of small spur-like vestiges of hindlimbs on either side of the vent; ventral body
scales in a single row, distinctly wider than other scales; tail tapering; head scales either as large
symmetrical plates, or small irregular scales; most species with pits on the labial scales (infrared
sensory organs). Non-venomous.
Family Acrochordidae (File Snakes)
Eyes obvious; no external traces of limbs; all scales small, granular; tail tapering; strictly aquatic, in
freshwater or estuaries; non-venomous.
Family Colubridae (Colubrid snakes)
Eyes obvious; no traces of limbs; ventral scales in a single row, much larger than other scales; scales
on head as large symmetrical plates; loreal scale present, giving three scales between nostril and rostral border of orbit; enlarged teeth, if present, usually at rear of mouth, and not with a central
canal; tail tapering; non-venomous or venomous, but Australian species not dangerously venomous.
Family Elapidae (Elapid snakes)
Eyes obvious; no traces of limbs; ventral body scales in a single row, much larger than other scales;
scales on head as large symmetrical plates; loreal scale absent on side of snout, usually only two
scales between nostril and rostral border of orbit; enlarged hollow teeth (fangs) at front of mouth;
tail tapering; venomous, some dangerously so.
Family Hydrophiidae (sea snakes)
Eyes obvious; no traces of limbs; ventral body scales variable in size, much larger than other scales or
not; scales on head variable, as large symmetrical plates or not; loreal scale absent, usually two
scales between nostril and rostral boder of orbit; enlarged hollow teeth (fangs) at front of mouth;
tail laterally compressed into a paddle; marine; viviparous; venomous, mostly dangerously so.
Family Laticaudidae (sea kraits)
Eyes obvious; no traces of limbs; ventral body scales in a single row, much larger than other scales;
scales on head as large symmetrical plates; loreal scale absent, two scales between nostril and
rostral border of orbit; enlarged hollow teeth (fangs) at front of mouth; tail laterally compressed into
a paddle; marine; oviparous; dangerously venomous. Two species occasionally reaching Australian
waters as waifs; 4 species worldwide.
