Section 4 Reptiles Flashcards
What is a reptile
An ectothermic vertebrate that has lungs and scaly skin
True or false: ancestors of modern amphibians were the first vertebrate adapted to life completely out of water
False: the answer is reptiles were the first to be adapted to life completely out of water
Where do reptiles get their oxygen from?
The air , they breathe completely with lungs
What things in a reptile are adapted to conserve water?
Their skin, kidneys and eggs
What are two functions of the reptiles scaly skin?
The dry tough skins protect reptiles and helps keep water in their bodies
What are some examples of reptiles ?
Snakes, lizards, turtles and alligators
How do kidneys help reptiles from losing water?
The kidneys of reptiles concentrate the urine so that the reptiles lose very little water when they filter out waste
Does a reptiles egg have a shell that keep the embryos moist so it doesn’t dry out
Yes it has a amniotic egg which is an egg that has a shell and internal membranes that keep it moist
What is a characteristic that both lizards and snakes have?
Skin covered with overlapping scales
What happens when lizards and snakes grow? What do they shed?
Their skin and scales , they replace the worn ones with new skin and scales
What type of climate do most lizards and snakes live in?
Warm areas
How do snakes differ from lizards
Lizards have 4 legs with claws on their toes , snakes have no legs . Lizards have long tails external ears and moveable eyelids and 2 lungs. Snakes have streamlined bodies no external ears, no eyelids and only one lung
Are most lizards carnivores?
Yes but a few are herbivores.
How do lizards catch their prey?
They jump on it or they have adaptations like sticky tongues adapted for snaring insects
Are all snakes carnivores
Yes they feed on small animals such as mice
Do some snakes eat larger prey?
Yes their jawbones can spread wide apart and the bones in a snakes skull can move to let the snake swallow an animal larger in diameter then itself!
Do all snakes have venom glands
NO but some do
How does a snake move?
Slithers across the ground. They move by contracting ( shortening) bands of muscles that are connected to their ribs and backbones
Are alligators crocodiles and their relatives the largest living reptiles?
Yes
Are both alligators and crocodiles large carnivorous reptiles that care for their young?
Yes true
What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
Alligators have broad rounded snouts with only a few teeth visible when their mouths are shut. Crocodiles have pointed snouts with most of their teeth visible when their mouths are shut
When do crocodiles and alligators hunt and what do they eat?
They often hunt at night . They are carnivores and will eat deer dogs and raccoons but rarely attack humans
What is a turtle?
A reptile whose body is covered by a protective shell that includes ribs and a backbone
True or false? All turtles can pull their head, legs and tail inside their shell?
False ( a box turtle can but a snapping turtle has a much smaller shell)
