Vertebrate Anatomy Flashcards
amphicoelous vertebrae
vertebrae are concave at both ends
opisthocoelous vertebrae
concave at the caudal end
procoelous vertebrae
concave at the cranial end
diapophysis
part of spine that articulates with the tuberculum of the rib dorsally
parapophysis
part of the spine that articulates with the capitulum of the rib ventrally
glenoid fossa
articulates with the humerus
acetabulum
portion of the pelvic girdle which articulates with the femur
firmisternal pectoral girdle
sternum is fused to the pectoral arch and the epicoracoidal cartilages of each half of the girdle or fused to one another
sesamoid bone
Prepollex. Replaces the first digit in anurans. Males use this during coitus
intercalary element
a bone which separates the terminal and penultimate bones in the digit. Found in hylindae
what bones form the otic capsule
prootic and opisthotic
chromatophores
specialized cells where the pigment of the skin is held. In the dermis
melanophores
predominant type of epidermal chromatophores containing melanins. epidermal chromatophores are lost in adults generally
three types of dermal chromatophores
xanthophores, iridophores, melanophores
xanthophores
aka erythrophores. most superficial. Cause yellow, red and orange to be displayed
iridophores
beneath the xanthophores and produce a white/silvery appearance. Often show up as a blue colour
melanophores
primary pigment is a brownish colour
syndactyly
two or more digits are fused together
plantigrade locomotion
ventral surface of manus and pes is in contact with substrate during walking or running
cursorial locomotion
running locomotion used in catching prey and escaping predators. Animals which use this typically have long limbs and motion in one plane only
saltatorial
jumping locomotion in which all four legs are used to jump
ricochetal
jumping locomotion in which only the hind limbs are used to jump
Amphibious/semiaquatic mammals
least amount of adaptations for life in the water. otters, beavers, muskrats
aquatic mammals
spend most of their amount of time in the water but can come on land to breed. Their fore and hindlimbs are modified into flippers which can bear weight on land but used for propulsion in water. seals, sealions, walruses.
marine mammals
never leave the water. They have extreme reduction in the pelvic girdle, fusion of cervical vertebrae. Vestigial hind limbs and tail modified into a horizontally flattened fluke. Cetaceans and sirenians
sloth locomotion
an arboreal form of locomotion used by a sloth - suspensory locomotion. Long limb bones and long curved claws. Not well suited for speed.
squirrel locomotion
an arboreal form of locomotion used by squirrels. scansorial locomotion. powerful hindlimbs and sharp, well-developed claws. Hind foot rotation is normal in this cluster.
gibbon locomotion
an arboreal form of locomotion seen in gibbons. Brachiation is the action of hand over hand swinging through tree branches. These mammals have elongated forelimbs and long fingers which help grip trees.
thecodont teeth
all the teeth are set in sockets present in the upper and lower jaws and that their roots are completely surrounded by bone. Mammals have thecodont teeth
diphyodont
Only have two sets of teeth in a lifetime. Most mammals are diphyodont
heterodonty
there is differentiation of tooth structure and function depending on where each tooth is located in the jaw
carnassial set
4th upper premolar and 1st lower molar. Shearing scissor blades passing by eachother. Sectorial teeth
brachyodont
distinguishes crown height. Short or low, crowned teeth, These are found in most mammals. They stop growing once they have fully erupted because they have closed roots
hypsodont teeth
high crowned teeth which rise quite high above the gumline. These are found in mammals whose teeth undergo extensive wear. Some of these hypsodont teeth can have open roots and thus grow continuously throughout the organisms life time as their teeth wear.
hypselodont
teeth which grow continuously throughout the lifetime of an organism. These teeth have open roots.
tribosphenic teeth
characteristic of mammalian teeth. 3 cusps on the occlusal surface of the tooth. The cusps are named as the protocone, paracone, and metacone on the upper surface and the protoconid, metaconid, and paraconid on this lower surface
talonid basin
caudal to the three main cusps on the lower surface. This is where the protocone of the upper tribosphenic tooth fits into the lower teeth. It is a heel like depression
bunodont
tooth has cusps with low and rounded surfaces. Used for crushing and grinding - omnivorous diet. Often associated with extra cusps - hypocone or hypoconid
hypocone
Located in caudal lingual position of upper tooth
hypoconid
located in the caudal labial position of the lower tooth
selenodont
exhibits cusps that have been longitudinally expanded to form crescent shaped ridges along the length of the tooth. Used in herbivory for continuous grinding
lophodont
similar to selenodont teeth in that the cusps have been modified and fused into ridges but the lophodont ridges are transverse. Also used to grind plant material.
sectorial cheek teeth
carnivoran adaptation used for cutting and tearing flesh. Highly modified from the tribosphenic condition. The cusps on these teeth are raised and blade-shaped for slicing. evident in the carnassial set.
tusks
elongated hysodont incisors (elephants) or canines (in some pigs)
procumbent incisors
the lower incisors project forward. Can be used for cropping grass or grooming
hypselodont incisors
long, chisel-shaped incisors found in rodents and lagomorphs. They have open roots and continuously grow as they are worn down
caniniform incisors
these incisors are pointed and sharp. Allows the incisors to function like canines.
zalambodont
crests arranged in a very narrow v shape
dilamdodont
crests arrange in a narrow W shape
diastema
space, especially between the incisors and cheek teeth
didactylous
having only two digits
chiropatagium
membrane of skin stretched between each of the bones of the hand.
plagiopatagium
membrane that stretches between the forelimb and the side of the body
uropatagium
membrane between the two legs that envelops the tail
microchiroptera
insect eating smaller bats which use echolocation and specializations of the face to localize sound.
calcar
cartilaginous rod that arises from the inner side of the ankle joint and supports the tail membrane.
mesaxonic
main axis of the foot passes through the 3rd digit which is the primary weight-bearing digit. perissodactyls
paraxonic
main axis of the artiodactyl foot passes between the 3rd and 4th digits
sagittal and occipital crests
associate with muscle attachment in the skull
gastrosteges
ventral scales in snakes - likely aid in locomotion
what bones is the plastron formed from?
clavicle, interclavicle, and abdominal ribs (gastralia)
tuatera skull
two temporal fenestrae. The orbit has the postorbital (dorsal) and jugal (ventral) ventral on the caudal side, The lower temporal fenestre has the squamosal (dorsal) and the quadrate (ventral) on its caudal side
upper temporal arch
squamosal-postorbital
metakinetic joint
hinge is located at the back of the braincase, between the parietal and supraocciptal bones. Only found in tuatera and some lizards. NOT snakes
mesokinetic joint
the hinge of this joint is located between the frontal and the parietal bones. This is seen in many extant lizards
prokinetic joint
hinge is located between the nasals and the prefrontal/frontal bones. Many snakes display this joint
lower jaw joint
also known as streptostylic jaw joint. Probably the most important in terms of cranial kinesis of the snake jaw. Also present in other squamates. Direct result of the loss of the lower temporal arch.
pleurodont tooth attachment
teeth are attached at the inside margin of the jaw
acrodont tooth attachment
teeth are attached along the summit of the jaw bone
aglyphous snake fangs
No grooves on the fangs. Most snakes which possess these are not venomous. Colubrids are aglyphous
proteroglyphous
the fangs contain a deep groove - acts like a hollow needle. Borne toward the front of the maxilla and the fangs curve backwards into the mouth. Only found in elapids
opistoglyphous
the the fangs are grooved and angled backwards at the rear of the maxilla. Snake must get prey into the back of the mouth to inject the venom. Found in colubrids
solenoglyphous
allows the fang to be erect when the mouth is open. Snakes with this dentition have small, rotatable dentition with a fang on each maxilla. A canal is present in the tooth that connects to the venom gland. This type is only found in viperids
scansors
present on the toepads of some lizards –> they use van der waals force for adhesion
zygosphenes
extra facets in the vertebrae of snakes
zygantra
extra facets in the vertebrae of snakes
pneumatization
Bird bones are characterized by this. Very light, hollow, cylindrical bones supported by internal bony struts
synsacrum
A structure found in Aves. It represents the fusion of the most caudal thoracic vertebrae, the lumbar and sacral vertebrae, and a few of the caudal vertebrae. The synsacrum is fused to the pelvic girdle.
pygostyle
the caudal most caudal vertebrae that fuse to form the pygostyle, a structure which supports the tail feathers, or the retrices
uncinate processes
flat, posterodorsally directed processes on the ribs that overlap with the ribs behind them
furcula
Area of the fusion of the clavicles
carina
large process extending ventrally from the sternum. Point of attachment for flight muscles. also called the sternal keel
wing loading
Birds mass divided by total wing area. Generally increases along with the size of the bird
aspect ratio
square of the wingspan divided by the wing area
active soaring wings
long and narrow. Excellent for soaring over water as long as wing currents are available
passive soaring wings
long and broad. Slotted primaries. Take advantage of thermal currents
elliptical wings
broad wings with slotted primaries. Good for maneuvering through complex environments. However, they require flapping and are generally slower. Optimized for short, fast bursts. Low aspect ratio.
high-speed wings
medium, long and narrow (high aspect ratio) - optimized for sustained speed. Equal distribution of primary and secondary flight feathers
hovering wings
Optimized for hovering locomotion. Wings are small relative to body size and the wing has a lot of primary feathers relative to secondary feathers. Articulation occurs mostly at the shoulder instead of the wrist.
camber
referring to the curvature of the wing. Camber helps to generate lift during flapping
prokinesis
upper beak is hinged with the brain case
abdominal pelvic fins
located toward the tail
thoracic pelvic fins
located ventrally to the pectoral fins
jugular pelvic fins
located in a position cranial to the pectoral fins
gonopodium
modified anal fin which is used as an intermittent organ
incisive foramina
lattice-like fenestrations on the facial portion of the maxilla
