GETTING AROUND AS A HERP What are the 2 primary roles of the axial skeleton?

GETTING AROUND AS A HERP What are the 2 primary roles of the axial skeleton? 1.Support Body 2.Propel the Body THESE ROLES ARE BALANCED AGAINST ONEANOTHER

How Lizards and Slanders Move? 1.Transfer weight to 3 limbs while other changes position 2.Flexion of pine 3.No Falling 4.Problems for breathing a.Muscles allowing flexion used for breathing b.Transfer air between lungs 5.When running have 2 legs off ground HOW DO TURTLES DIFFER?

LOCOMOTION BY TURTLES IS ESSENTUALLY A CONTROLLED SERIES OF FALLS Fig 10-8

WHAT ABOUT ANURANS? Fig 1-2 On Land: We think mostly of hopping/jumping, but use other gaits In Water: Swimming is mostly a hind-limb approach

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land Fig Undulatory Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land Fig Side-Pushing Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land Fig Concertina Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land Fig Sidewinding Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land Rectilinear Locomotion: Use of Ribs and Belly Scales to slowly crawl forward. Common among large constrictors. Can often be seen when rat snakes transverse boards. (Similar to a Roman Galley). Saltation: Reports of young vipers exploding forward 1.5 times their body length during strikes.

Swimming Locomotion Undulatory for Snakes, Salamanders, Lizards Flying in Water by Sea Turtles (Series of figure 8s) Four Limb Paddling of Turtles Hind Legs of Frogs 10-17, 10-19

Do Any Modern Herps Fly?

Powered Flight: Birds, Pterosaurs Capable of Climbing Falling: Drop Strait Down Parachuting: Steep Descent of more than 45° Gliding: Shallow Descent of less than 45°

Fossorial Locomotion--Digging Limbless animals use head and concertina motion Limbed animals use forelimbs for “swimming” or scratch-digging.

COMMUNICATION AMONG AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES VISUAL TACTILE CHEMICAL AUDIO What are the major benefits and problems for each of these?

VISUAL COMMUNICATION Benefits: Cheap to Produce Costs: Short Range Requires Making Yourself Obvious Examples: Extensive use in lizards (Work by Diana Hews) Open mouth displays of Tuatara Courtship displays of newts (Includes Chemical) Frogs change colors and flash patches at each other Parts of crocodile displays

TACTILE COMMUNICATION Benefits: Cheap to Produce Relatively Safe (If You Pay Attention) Costs: Very Short Range Can be Very Discrete Often Final Portion of Courting Examples: Courtship of Snakes Courtship displays of salamanders (Includes Chemical) Tail Straddling by Salamanders

CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION Benefits: Moderate Cost to Produce Costs: Short or Long Range May Make You Obvious to Chemically Receptive Predators Examples: Extensive Use in Salamanders Extensive Use by Snakes Use in Lizards Poorly Studied Some Use by Frogs Little Known in Alligators Probably Common Among Turtles

AUDIO COMMUNICATION Benefits: Very Long Range Costs: Expensive to Produce Requires Making Yourself Obvious To Predators Examples: Frog Calls Alligator Bellowing Hissing by Squamates