Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate Class Reptilia
Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate Class Reptilia
Characteristics of Reptiles • Including turtles, lizards, snakes, tuataras, & crocodilians • Commonalties – Amniotic egg – leathery shelled egg w/yolk sac rich in nutrients – Thick scaly skin/watertight – Lungs for gas exchange • Two-loop circulatory system w/a 4 -chambered heart (crocs & gators) 3 -chambered for rest. • All three types of fertilization present in reptiles
More Characteristics • Brains are the same as amphibians w/larger cerebrums. • Carnivores and herbivores. • Snakes have a Jacobson’s organ which is very sensitive to odors. • Reptiles are ectothermic. • Thermoregulation – Ectotherm – “cold-blooded” absorb heat from surroundings – Endotherm – “warm-blooded” generates own body heat
Order Chelonia • Turtles-live in or near water • Tortoises-live in more dry or arid places • All lay eggs-oviparous • Migrate to birth place to lay eggs. • The only reptiles with shells. The vertebrate and ribs are fused together. – Top-carapace – Bottom - plastron
Order Crocodilia • Crocodiles, alligators, gavials, caimans • Largest reptile • All are carnivores • Shape of jaw distinguishes difference in crocs and gators. • Lay eggs in a nest and guard them from predators • Live in tropics or subtropics
Order Squamata • Lizards and Snakes. • Lizards are found everywhere except Antarctica • Only 2 venomous species Gila monster and Komodo dragon • Snakes have 100 -400 vertebrate. • Three ways to kill – Constrictors-boas, pythons, anacondas – Venom-rattlesnakes, cobras, vipers – Grabbers- those that just grab with their mouth. http: //www. southalley. com/dlizards/skink_blue. JPG
Order Rhynchocephalia • Tuataras – “spiny crest” • Only surviving species in this order. • Found in New Zealand • The spiny crest looks like a 3 rd eye that contains sensitive light cells. http: //www. aotearoa. co. nz/tuatara/real 2. jpg
Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate Class Aves
Characteristics of Birds • Feathers – unique to birds, essential for flight and insulation • Wings – modified forelimbs • Lightweight, rigid skeleton of thin hollow bones • Endothermic metabolism – high body temp • Unique respiratory system – most efficient • Beak with no teeth where shape determines diet. • Ovoviviparous –amniotic egg with hard shell which requires incubation
Feathers – Modified Scales • Three types of feather – Down feathers – insulation – Contour feathers – streamline shape, coloration, insulation – Flight feathers – specialized contour feathers • Preening – to put feathers back together again. • Molting – losing or shedding feathers
Systems of Birds • Digestion – no teeth-crop(stores food)gizzard(grinds food)-stomach-intestines-anus • Respiratory-gas exchange highly efficient • Two-loop circulatory system w/4 -chambered heart. • Large brain for body size with keen vision due to large optic lobes. • Birds migrate by a sense of magnetism to help navigate.
BIRD Facts • Birds use an egg tooth to hatch out of their egg. • Flightless birds include penguin, ostrich & emu. • There are 29 orders of birds. • The order Passeriformes is the largest. These are song birds.
http: //www. naturesound. com/birds/thmbnls/yellwrb. jpg
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