Question | Answer |
List common characteristics of reptiles. | Covered with tough, dry scales; Ectothermic; Breathe with lungs throughout their lives; Three-chambered heart with partially divided ventricle; Amniotic eggs with leathery shell, most oviparous, some ovoviviparous |
Identify parts of egg. | Review figure of egg. |
What is the function of the yolk? | Contains nutrients, which sustain developing embryo. |
What is the function of the albumen? | Defense against pathogens |
What is the function of the amnion? | Creates fluid filled sac in which the embryo floats. |
What is the function of the allantois? | Sac of blood vessels that allows for respiration and excretion of the embryo |
What is the function of the chorion? | The chorion is a membrane that surrounds the amnion, yolk and yolk sac, and the allantois. |
What is the growth-related characteristic common to reptiles and arthropods? | They both must molt (shed skin) because their body covering is not living and can't grow. |
What are the two most important functions of reptile scales? | Prevent water loss and insulate the reptile's body |
What are the four orders that contain currently living reptiles? | Rhynchocephalia, Squamata, Crocodilia, Testudines |
What are six characteristics that set birds apart from other vertebrates? | Endothermic; Heart with four chambers; Toothless bill; Oviparous, laying amniotic egg covered in lime-containing shell; Covered with feathers; Skeleton of porous, lightweight bones (exceptions) |
What is the difference in the blood circulation between amphibians and birds? | In amphibians, oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood is mixed, but in birds they are always separate. |
Looking at a feather under a microscope, you see that there are no hooked barbules. What kind of feather is it? | Down feather |
What type of feather is used for flight? | Contour |
Why does a bird preen? | It is oiling its feathers. |
What is unique about bird molting? | A bird's feathers molt in pairs, one or a few at a time, whereas arthropods and reptiles tend to molt their whole body covering at once. |
What did flight engineers learn from birds to make practical flight possible? | Proper structure of a wing; How to make strong, hollow tubes; Reduce wing turbulence |
What are the five characteristics that set mammals apart from other vertebrates? | Hair covering skin; Internal fertilization and usually viviparous; Nourish young with milk secreted from specialized glands; Four-chambered heart; Endothermic |
What is the function of underhair? | Insulation |
Do we see underhair or guard hair when looking at a mammal? | Guard hair |
Name a nonplacental mammal. | Any from orders Monotremata or Marsupialia: duck-billed platypus, spiny anteater, kangaroo, wallaby, koala, opossum |
What is the difference between offspring born after a long gestation period and those after a short gestation period? | Offspring with a long gestation period are more developed. |
To which order does the tuatara belong? | Rhynchocephalia |
To which order do lizards belong? | Squamata |
To which order to crocodiles belong? | Crocodilia |
To which order do tortoises belong? | Testudines |
To which order do snakes belong? | Squamata |
To which order do alligators belong? | Crocodilia |