Reptile Fact Sheet

Reptile Fact Sheet

General Info

·  Ectothermic- don’t regulate internal body temperature, saves energy, but must live in warm environment or (if in temperate climate) must hibernate, can survive greater range of body temperatures than endotherms

·  Amniotic Eggs- an amniote is a sac of fluid around the embryo that prevents it from drying out

·  Three-chambered heart (except in crocodiles, they have 4-chambered heart), have only one ventricle, so oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mix

·  Scales- provide protection

Crocodilia

·  23 species

·  Habitat- saltwater and freshwater in Southeastern US, Caribbean, South America, Australia, Indian Ocean, Africa

·  Feeding- stalks prey at waters edge, strikes and crushes prey with powerful jaws, “death roll” to break of chunks of meat, don’t chew so have gizzard and expandable stomach, stomach can digest bone, feathers, horn, etc.

·  Reproduction- sexual reproduction, temperature-dependent sex determination (embryos exposed to warmer temperatures become males, embryos exposed to cooler temperatures become females), females guard nests and hatchlings

·  Other info- Bony plate in jaw so they can breathe when moth is full of water, species can be distinguished by jaw shape and size (Ex: Crocodile jaws are longer than alligator jaws)

Spenodontia

·  Flourished 200 million years ago, now only 2 species (tuataras)

·  Habitat- North Island of New Zealand

·  Feeding- two rows of upper teeth, one row of lower teeth, share habitat with migrating seabirds, feed on eggs and insects attracted by bird waste, such as spiders, beetles, crickets, also eat frogs and other lizards

·  Reproduction- reproduce slowly (10-20 years to reach maturity, females lay eggs every 4 years), males have spiny crest to attract females

·  Other info- diapsid skull, brain and locomotion resemble amphibian, nocturnal (except juveniles, diurnal because adults often cannibalistic), lower body temperature than most reptiles

Squamata

·  Over 9,000 species, largest order of reptiles

·  Habitat- terrestrial, tropical, and temperate conditions (often dry/desert-like)

·  Feeding- snakes have quadrate bones in jaw so they can swallow large prey, some have venom (Komodo Dragons have bacteria-infested saliva, so prey dies of infected bite wound)

·  Reproduction- sexual reproduction (Whiptail lizards reproduce asexually b/c they’re all female, cross over their chromosomes http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=asexual-lizards), snakes mate by coiling around each other, sometimes like dance, multiple male snakes may try to mate with one female (mating balls) see below

·  Other info- can sever and regenerate tails when threatened

o  Severed tail distracts predator so lizard can escape

o  Breaking points in tail- points made to sever where blood clots rapidly, tissues are loosely connected, etc.

o  Regenerates within 6-12 months

o  Regenerated segment discolored

Testudines

·  300 species

·  Habitat- tortoises=terrestrial, turtles=aquatic (saltwater and freshwater), terrapins=brackish water

·  Feeding- generally herbivores, but some (snapping turtles) eat small fish, have keratin beaks instead of jaws

·  Reproduction- sexual reproduction, bury eggs in sand/dirt, mothers never known to care for young, temperature-dependent sex determination

·  Life Cycle- live in coastal feeding grounds => mate => females go to beach and lay eggs => eggs hatch => offspring return to ocean

·  Other Info-

o  Shells- Carapace (top), Plastron (bottom), shape of shell depends on lifestyle/behavior

o  Internal organs never break down=have long life spans, scientists looking into the genes that cause this

o  Distinguish between turtles that can retract head into shell (Cryptodira) and turtles that can’t (Pleurodira)

Sources:

Campbell and Reece, AP Biology Textbook (pg.

Wikipedia.org (Reptiles, Testudines, Squamata, Crocodilia, Sphenodontia)

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Reptiles-704/2010/3/limb-tail-regrowth-leopard.htm