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Reptiles

I. General Characteristics

Scales, dry skin, some w/ bony dermal plates

No larval stage, hard (leathery) shelled egg

Breathe through lungs

Legs with 5 toes, claws

Ectothermic (cold-blooded)

Tuatara

II. TuataraDistinctly different order (Rhynchocephalia)Nictitating membrane (3rd eyelid)Primitive skull structureLizard-like appearance, anatomically very different (very slow reproductive cycle)A true "living fossil"Found only on a few coastal New Zealand Islands

Turtles

III. Turtles

Order Testudines225 species hard shell of overgrown ribsLack teeth - beakTerrestrial, (tortoise or box turtle)Semi-aquatic (terrapin)Marine (sea)

Turtles

Shell is really a bone, skin, and scale sandwich

Upper shell - Carapace

Lower shell - Plastron

Well developed senses

Most are herbivores or omnivores

Marine Turtles

All 7 species are endangered

Nest sites are being destroyed

Trapped and drowned in shrimp nets

Prized for food and shell

Turtles - Examples

See the lazerdisc

Classroom collection - Sulcata Tortoise

Painted Turtle

Red-eared Slider

1. Common Snapping Turtle

1. Snapping turtle

2. Stinkpot

2. Stinkpot

3. Three-Toed Box Turtle

3. Three-Toed Box Turtle

4. Ornate Box Turtle

4. Ornate Box Turtle

5. W. Painted Turtle

5. W. Painted Turtle

6. Red-Eared Slider

6. Red-Eared Slider

7. Soft Shell

7. Soft Shell

Species AccountSpecies account of the _________________Vital Statistics ( scientific name, common name, taxonomy)Identification (shape, size, markings, general description)Habitat (biome and range)Behaviors (niche, feeding, when active, reproduction, etc.)Observations (details about our specimen)

Crocodilians

IV. Crocodilians

Order Crocodilia, 3 families, 23 species

Crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gavials

laterally compressed tail, all semi-aquatic

4 chambered heart

scales reinforced with bony plates

teeth set in bony sockets

Crocodilians

Limited to tropics and sub-tropics

Female guards the nest

Both predator and scavenger, strongest stomach acid of any vertebrate

Am. Alligator saved by the Endangered Species Act

Adaptations – FROM THE VIDEO

Lizards

V. Lizards

Order squamata, suborder sauria

3000 species

external ear opening, moveable eyelids

Tail in most readily detaches and regenerates

Lizards

Keen eyesight, most are insectivores

Males are territorial

Display with head bobs, pushup displays, etc.

Many are arboreal

VI. Behaviors - Thermoregulation

"cold-blooded" is more efficient

Reptiles warm up by behavior, basking

Pond turtles – out on logsSnapping turtle – at surfaceearless lizard - only head out of sandhorned lizard - changes colorSnakes on warm surfaces - roads

8. Eastern Fence Lizard

8. Eastern Fence Lizard

9. Texas Horned Lizard

9. Texas Horned Lizard

10. Ground Skink

10. Ground Skink

11. Five-Lined Skink

12. Great Plains Skink

12. Great Plains Skink

13. Racerunner

14. Western Slender Glass Lizard

14. Western Slender Glass Lizard

Snakes

VII. SnakesOrder Squamata, suborder serpentes3000 speciesno external ears or eyelidsno legs, skutesspecially hinged jawForked tongue, Jacobsen's organMost are rodent eatersheat sensing pits and/or slit pupils in some

VIII. Snakes - Locomotion

Lateral UndulationMost common, most primitive, fish-like

Concertina Progressioncoiling and uncoiling like a slinky.

Rectilinear Locomotionusing just the skutes

Sidewindingadaptation to soft sand, desert.

IX. Snakes - Feeding"Bite and Swallow"

Most primitiveFound in garter snake and other aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes

ConstrictorsMost common

VenomousMost highly evolvedModified teeth, salivary glandsHemotoxins or neurotoxins

15. Hog nosed Snake

15. Hog nosed Snake

16. Worm Snake

17. Prairie Ring Necked Snake

18. Flathead Snake

19. Rough Green Snake

20. Eastern Yellow Belly Racer

21. Great Plains Rat Snake

21. Great Plains Rat Snake

22. Black Rat Snake

22. Black Rat Snake

23. Bull Snake

24. Prairie King Snake

25. Common Kingsnake

26. Milk Snake

27. Red-Sided Garter Snake

28. Lined Snake

29. Texas Brown Snake

30. Northern Water Snake

30. Northern Water Snake

31. Copperhead

32. Timber Rattle Snake

32. Timber Rattle Snake