Amniotes, reptiles and birds Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 shared derived characteristics fo clade amniotes?

A
  • Amniotic egg, direct development, internal fertilization
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2
Q

What does the amniotic egg provide and by which extraembryonic layers?

A

4 extraembryonic layers
- gas exchange - allantois, chorion
- nutrients - yolk sac, albumen
- protection from dessication - shell, amnion, chorion

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3
Q

Characteristics of amniotic egg shell?

A
  • leathery or calcareous shell preventing dessication that is lost in mammals
  • adaptation for laying eggs on land
  • egg shells form internally after copulation and internal fertilization
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4
Q

How is internal fertilization achieved?

A

Intromittent organs are male genitaloa specialized to deliver sperm during fertilization.
- necessary for amniotic egg development

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5
Q

What are some other amniote adaptations for terrestrial life?

A
  • thick, impermeable skin resistant to dessication
  • axial skeletal muscle-powered lung ventilation (intercostals)
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6
Q

How are amniotes classified and what are the 3 classifications?

A

Based on number of temporal fenestrae in the post-eye area of the skull
Anapsid: none
Synapsid: 1 pair
Diapsid: 2 pair

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7
Q

Amniote phylogeny?

A
  • monophyletic with 2 clades
    Diapsids - reptiles
    Synapsids - mammals
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8
Q

What are 3 characteristics of non-avian reptiles?

A
  • skin protection and shedding
  • reproductive adaptations
  • circulatory system and thermoregulation
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9
Q

Skin structure of reptiles?

A

thick, dry keratinous scales that create a waterproof barrier
- highly resistant to dessication
- skin is shed in sections or all at once

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10
Q

What reproductive adaptations do reptiles have?

A
  • lay eggs in leathery shells
  • oviparous and lay eggs on land
  • some are viviparous with a rudimentary placenta
  • parental care is minimal except in crocodilians
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11
Q

Circulatory system and thermoregulation in reptiles?

A
  • 3-chambered hearts
  • ectothermic and behavioural thermoregulation
  • lower metabolic rate results in reduced food and energy requirements
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12
Q

What are the 2 lineages of diapsids?

A

Lepidosaurs and Archosaurs (Pterosaurs, dinosaurs)

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13
Q

Turtles/Tortoise characteristics? feeding, anatomy, skeleton?

A
  • herbivores or carnivores
  • lay eggs on land
  • anapsid skulls but descended from diapsids
  • bony/cartilaginous shell made of dorsal+ventral shields fused to the vertebrae
  • toothless beaks
  • single intromittent organ
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14
Q

Lepidosaur characteristics?

A

– teeth fused to jaw and body covered in scales derived from epidermis
- scals are moulted
- hemipenis (paired)
- monophyletic with Tuataras and squamates

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15
Q

Tuatara characteristics?

A
  • lack modified jaw structure of lizards
  • no intromittent organ
  • internal fertilization via copulation
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16
Q

Squamate characteristics? Lizard and snake characteristics?

A
  • lizards and snakes
  • loosely jointed jaws and skulls
  • hemipenis
    Lizards
  • external ears
  • well-developed limbs (may be lost secondarily)
  • insectivorous or herbivorous
  • may be poisonous
    Snakes
  • monophyletic legless lepidosaurs (seondarily lost)
  • vestigial pelvic girdle retained in some species of snakes
  • carnivorous: kill via venom or suffocation, swallow with loosely articulated jaw and elastic skin
17
Q

Defining characteristic of archosaurs? 2 lineages?

A

socketed teeth not fused to jaw
- lost/replaced by beak in some lineages
Crocodilians and birds

18
Q

Crocodilian characteristics?

A
  • semi-aquatic, large predators
  • elongated, flattened skull
  • swallow prey whole
  • single intromittent organ
  • maternal care
19
Q

Extinct archosaurs?

A

Pterosaurs
Non-avian dinosaurs: Herbivorous ornisthischians and carnivorous saurischians

20
Q

What are theropods?

A

saurischian, bipedal carnivorous reptiles that couldn’t fly

21
Q

Archaeopteryx characteristics?

A
  • feathered and had wings for powered flight
  • teeth, bony tail and wing claws
22
Q

Theropod and bird similarities?

A
  • hollow, thin-walled bones and skeletal similarities
  • egg laying and brooding
  • feathers homologous to theropod scales
  • organ similarities in brain, heart and muscles
23
Q

Bird phylogeny?

A
  • monophyletic
  • underwent rapid adaptive radiation after evolution of flight
  • sister taxa with crocodilians
24
Q

7 shared derived characteristics?

A

Wings with keratin feathers
Light-weight hollow bones
Tootless beaks
Adapted digestive system
Organ reduction
Endothermy
High metabolic rate, 4-chambered heart, complex respiratory system

25
Q

Wing and feather structure of birds?

A
  • feathers are finely divded keratinous scales
  • wings are modified tetrapod forelimbs with reduced digits
  • bipedal, no claws on wing digits
26
Q

Bird bone structure?

A
  • large, air-filled cavities
  • honey comb structure enhances bone strength and minimizes weight
27
Q

What are beaks?

A

Bony extensions of jaws sheathed in keratin

28
Q

How are bird digestive systems adapted for flight?

A
  • crop for temporary food storage
  • gizzard is the muscular part of the stomach with swallowed grit which grinds food
29
Q

Organ reduction in birds?

A

One ovary, small gonads, no bladder

30
Q

How is endothermy beneficial for flight?

A

High metabolic rate due to body temp maintenance supports energy demands of flight

31
Q

Bird respiratory system?

A

cyclic movmement of air between airspaces in bones and lungs ensuring air reaches lungs in both inhalation and exhalation
- maximizes O2 uptake for energy production essential for sustained flight

32
Q

What are feathers used for? What is the arrangement of a bird feathers called? How are feathers maintained?

A
  • flight
  • insulation
  • courtship
  • camouflage
  • signalling
    Plumage
    Preening - distribution of waxy secretions along length of feathers to keep them supple
  • removes foreign particles
  • birds regularly moult their plumage
33
Q

How do birds reproduce?

A

internal fertilization via copulation but no intromittent organs
- press cloacas together
- oviparous, lay eggs with calcareous shells
- parental care

34
Q

What are the two types of chicks?

A

Precocial - able to feed self after hatching
Altricial - dependent on parent for warmth and food until developed