REPTILES- SPECIES ADAPTATIONS

Question 1

What class do reptiles belong to

Answer 1

Sauropsida

Question 2

What are the 4 orders of reptiles

Answer 2

1. Crocodilia
2. Sphenodontia
3. Squamata
4. Testudines

Question 3

What are crocodilia

Answer 3

Crocodiles
Gharials
Caimans
Alligators

Question 4

What are sphenodontia

Answer 4

Tuataras from New Zealand one 2 species

Question 5

What are Squamata

Answer 5

Has 2 suborders
Sauria - lizards
Serpentes - snakes

Question 6

What are testudines

Answer 6

Also know as chelonians

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins

Question 7

What are the main differences between tortoises, turtles and terrapins

Answer 7

Tortoise- terrestrial
Turtle- marine
Terrapin- freshwater
This is for the uk in North America all are known as turtles and terrapins are any water chelonians

Question 8

What are the 2 types of reptile growth

Answer 8

Determinate

Indeterminate

Question 9

Outline determinate growth

Answer 9

Genetically predetermined growth - stops after maturity

Question 10

Outline indeterminate reptile growth

Answer 10

Fast growing to a Turing- continue to grow after maturity just slower
Reliant on adequate nutrition and conditions

Question 11

Describe the axial skeleton of lizards

Answer 11

Atlas and axis
8 cervical vertebrae (doe have ribs - tend to be caudal 4-5)
11-18 (variable ) trunk vertebrae with ribs - some also have gastralia
Variable caudal vertebrae

Question 12

What is gastralia

Answer 12

Dermal ribs
Formed via intramembranous ossification
Attaches to the sides of ventral body wall- sternum and pelvis
Lizards and crocodiles - accessory muscle attachment

Question 13

What is caudal tail autonomy in lizards

Answer 13

Is an anti-predator defence

Lizard drops tail, which trashes around and is brightly coloured so attracts thee predator

Question 14

Hat allows caudal tail autonomy to occur

Answer 14

The lizards have:
Fracture plates
Sphincters to prevent blood loss

Question 15

Does the tail regrow after caudal tail autonomy

Answer 15

Yes
So no stitching/tight bandaging.
Regrows as cartilage

Question 16

What a the problem with caudal tail autonomy

Answer 16

Is vey costly as the tail contains fat stores and energy diverted t regrow
May affect locomotion, reproduction
Can make the lizard slower, more vulnerable less able to fight

Question 17

Can a lizard undergo caudal tail autonomy again

Answer 17

Yes however can’t occur in the same place - has to be higher up

Question 18

Describe the sternal and pectoral girdles of lizards

Answer 18

Interclavicle - unpaired dermal bone
Sternum - cartilage or bone that isn’t fully ossified . Links the ribs
May have gastralia
Pelvic girdle - very similar to other species

Question 19

Describe the axial skeleton of snakes

Answer 19

Atlas and axis
Single occipital condyle
100-300 preclinical vertebrae - with ribs 
2-10 lumbar/ cloacal vertebrae - no ribs
10-20 caudal vertebrae - no ribs

Question 20

What is the advantage of snakes only having a single occipital condyle

Answer 20

Supports the body

Can lunate neck more easily

Question 21

Describe how the vertebrae of snakes are adapted to allow flexibility of the body without damage to the spinal cord

Answer 21

Zygosphene and zygantrum
- provide stability

Allows vertebrae to move together and lock vertebrae together = less movement and therefore damage of the spinal cord

Question 22

Describe the pectoral and girdles of snakes

Answer 22

No pectoral girdle
No pelvic girdle most snakes
Pelvic spurs

Question 23

What is the advantage of sakes not having a pectoralgirdle

Answer 23

More flexibility to move ad expand (eating prey )

Question 24

Which type of snake does have a pelvic girdle

Answer 24

Boidae (pythons , Boa constrictors )

Question 25

What are pelvic spurs

Answer 25

Pelvic remnants
Short bones covered in keratin, muscles flex and extend the spurs
Only males

Question 26

Outline the main muscular anatomy of the snake

Answer 26

Intervertebral muscles are complex
Intercostal and hypaxial muscles- interlocking system of muscle chains and tendons for locomotion, passage of prey and respiration

Question 27

Describe the main axial skeletons of chelonians

Answer 27

Atlas and axis 
8 cervical vertebrae 
Shell
10 trunk/ dorsal vertebrae 
Trunk ribs are fused with costal bones 
2 sacral vertebrae - fused to neural bones of the carapace 
<24 caudal vertebrae

Question 28

What allows for variable neck length in chelonians

Answer 28

Varied length of the cervical vertebrae

Question 29

What makes up the shell of chelonians

Answer 29

Osteoderms ( dermal bone ) and endochondral bones which are fused

Question 30

How do you tell male and female chelonians apart

Answer 30

Ales have a longer tail than females therefore have more caudal vertebrae

Question 31

What are the 2 suborders of chelonians

Answer 31

Cryptodira

Pleurodira

Question 32

What is the difference between cryptodira and pleurodira chelonians

Answer 32

Cryptodira = hidden neck into shell- retract neck , majority of speecies 
Pleuurodira = side neck - turn neck to the side, small suborder

Question 33

Does a chelonians shell contain blood vessels

Answer 33

Yes it also contains nerves so needs to be included in drug dose calculations

Question 34

Describe the pectoral and pelvic girdles of chelonians

Answer 34

Within ribcage

Vertical orientation of ones - greater stability within the shell. Scapula articulates with shell- ventral

Question 35

Outline the main muscular anatomy of the chelonians

Answer 35

Large muscle mass
Head and neck retraction
No trunk muscles
Pectoral/ pelvic bones to plastron