Marine Reptiles and Birds

Class Reptilia

Characteristics Strong bony skeleton Well developed lungs Most have 2 pairs of legs Legs are thick Toes with claws Excretory system designed to conserve water

Characteristics Cont’d Color change Dominant sense – sight Uric acid – primary excretory product 4 chambered heart Sex determination - high temp – males - low temp - females

Order Testudines 225 species Beak rather than teeth Eat plants and animals Most are highly endangered Leatherback up to 9’ and 1 ton.

Order Squamata Suborder Sauria Lizards Eat plants and animals Komodo Dragon – up to 10 ft long Marine Iguanas – feed on algae

Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Snakes No limbs Strong flexible bodies Oviparous or ovoviviparous Well developed sense of taste and smell

Snake Feeding Jacobson’s organs – olfactory pouches used to track prey and find females Pit organs – detect heat Swallow prey whole Upper and lower jaws can move independently Posteriorly pointing teeth

Snake Venom Hemotoxins - destroy red blood cells and cause internal bleeding - vipers Neurotoxins – paralyze nerve cells, respiratory paralysis - Cobras, coral snakes, and sea snakes

Order Crocodilia Crocodiles and Alligators Differences Carnivores Live in water Extend nostrils above water for air

Class Aves

Feathers Composed mainly of keratin Down feathers - soft, fluffy feathers providing insulation. Filoplumes - thin, hair-like feathers. Contour feathers - shape and color the body. Flight feathers - specialized contour feathers on wings and tail that provide lift.

Feather Types

Skeleton Light bones Air sacs – greatly increase lung’s ability to take in oxygen. Forelimbs function as wings, not for grasping Types of feet based on type of food and environment.

Types of bills Toothless Depend on type of food gathered

Cardiovascular System Body temperature is internally regulated (endothermic) Heart is 4-chambered High metabolism - provides the large amount of energy needed for flight. Rapid heartbeat - moves large amount of blood through the body for gas exchange.

Nervous System Highly developed Controls flight, Helps navigation, Enhances vision and hearing.

Digestive System Crop - stores food for processing by the gizzard. Gizzard - grinds the food.

Shore Birds feed in intertidal zone, long legs and sharp beaks. (ex. Sandpipers)

Gulls predators and scavengers found all over the world. Generally live around shoreline.

Pelicans, Cormorants, etc Dive for food Gular pouch serves as a net

Albatross Superb gliders (11ft wing span) Return to land only to nest

Penguins Heavier bones and layers of fat. Most highly adapted to life in the sea Preyed upon by leopard seals & killer whales