Unit 13

Question 1

Superorder Lepidosaurs

Answer 1

Scaled lizards
Diapsids
Triassic origin

Question 2

Taxonomy of Lepidosaurs

Answer 2

Orders: Rhynchocephalia, Squamata
Suborders:
Sphenodontia - Tuatara
Lacertilia - lizards
Serpentes - snakes

Question 3

Order Rhynchocephalia

Answer 3

Family: Sphenodontidae
Genus: Sphenodon
Sub species:
Cook Strait Tuatara (S. punctatus)
Brothers Island Tuatara (S. guntheri)

Question 4

Venom clade

Answer 4

Toxicofera

Aguimorpha, iguania, Serpentes

Question 5

Major venomous compounds

Answer 5

Proteinases-tissue destruction
Hyaluronidase - increase tissue permeability
L-amino acid oxidase - tissue destruction
Cholinesterase - unknown
Phospholipases - destroys cell membrane
Phosphatases - breaks down ATP
Basic polypeptides -blocks neuromuscular transmission

Question 6

Locomotion types

Answer 6

Lateral undulation
Rectilinear
Concertina
Sidewinding

Question 7

Modern lizard skull

Answer 7

Gap between quadrate and jugal

- skull kinesis

Question 8

Snake skull

Answer 8

8 movable links = extreme movement complexity
Mandible not fused together (connected through muscle)
Lost lower and upper temporal arch - skull kinesis

Question 9

DAP

Answer 9

Display action patterns
Pushups
Head bobs
Displays dewlap

Question 10

Snake olfaction

Answer 10

Jacobson’s organ (vomeronasal organ)

Question 11

Lecithotrophy

Answer 11

Yolk only nutrients

Vs Matrotrophy

Question 12

Parental care

Answer 12

Of eggs
Incubation
Of hatchlings
Prehensile-tailed skinks protect young for a year and young eat poo