Vertebrates - Mammalia / Amniotes

Question 1

what characteristics are found in the clade amniota?

Answer 1

-tetrapods with an amniotic egg: no longer need to be dependent on water to produce offspring
-have relatively impermeable skin to keep water in and can use rib cage to ventilate lungs

Question 2

what is the class reptilia - what does it include and what are its characteristics?

Answer 2

-includes tuatara, lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs
-waterproof scales made of keratin
-lungs for gas exchange
-internal fertilization

Question 3

what animals are found in the class aves?

Answer 3

-birds, a part of the reptile group
-feathers and forearms evolved for flying
-ostriches, penguins, ducks, loons, songbirds, raptors

-archaeopteryx is the oldest ancestor

Question 4

what are the derived characteristics of the class aves?

Answer 4

-keratin wings, lack of a urinary bladder
-females with only one ovary
-small gonads, no teeth

Question 5

what are the traits of the class mammalia?

Answer 5

-amniotes with hair that produce milk through mammary glands
-generally have a larger brain
-endothermic
-differentiation of teeth

Question 6

what are monotremes?

Answer 6

-a small group of egg-laying mammals including echidnas and the platypus

Question 7

what are marsupials?

Answer 7

-mammals including kangaroos, opossums, and koalas
-marsupials are born very early and complete their development in a maternal pouch called a marsupium

Question 8

what are eutherians?

Answer 8

-placental mammals, with a longer period of pregnancy than marsupials
-complete their embryonic development within a uterus, joined to the mother by a placenta

Question 9

what animals and characteristics are found in primates?

Answer 9

-lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, apes - humans are within the ape category
-have hands and feet used to grab onto things
-monkeys and apes have opposable thumbs