1. Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate Class Reptilia

2. Characteristics of Reptiles
Including turtles, lizards, snakes, tuataras, & crocodilians
Commonalties
Amniotic egg – leathery shelled egg w/yolk sac rich in nutrients
Thick scaly skin/watertight
Lungs for gas exchange
Two-loop circulatory system w/a 4-chambered heart (crocs & gators) 3-chambered for rest.
All three types of fertilization present in reptiles

3. More Characteristics
Brains are the same as amphibians w/larger cerebrums.
Carnivores and herbivores.
Snakes have a Jacobson’s organ which is very sensitive to odors.
Reptiles are ectothermic.
Thermoregulation
Ectotherm – “cold-blooded” absorb heat from surroundings
Endotherm – “warm-blooded” generates own body heat

4. Order Chelonia Turtles-live in or near water
Tortoises-live in more dry or arid places
All lay eggs-oviparous
Migrate to birth place to lay eggs.
The only reptiles with shells. The vertebrate and ribs are fused together.
Top-carapace
Bottom - plastron

5. Order Crocodilia Crocodiles, alligators, gavials, caimans
Largest reptile
All are carnivores
Shape of jaw distinguishes difference in crocs and gators.
Lay eggs in a nest and guard them from predators
Live in tropics or subtropics

6. Order Squamata Lizards and Snakes.
Lizards are found everywhere except Antarctica
Only 2 venomous species Gila monster and Komodo dragon
Snakes have vertebrate.
Three ways to kill
Constrictors-boas, pythons, anacondas
Venom-rattlesnakes, cobras, vipers
Grabbers- those that just grab with their mouth.

7. Order Rhynchocephalia
Tuataras – “spiny crest”
Only surviving species in this order.
Found in New Zealand
The spiny crest looks like a 3rd eye that contains sensitive light cells.

8. Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate Class Aves

9. Characteristics of Birds
Feathers – unique to birds, essential for flight and insulation
Wings – modified forelimbs
Lightweight, rigid skeleton of thin hollow bones
Endothermic metabolism – high body temp
Unique respiratory system – most efficient
Beak with no teeth where shape determines diet.
Ovoviviparous –amniotic egg with hard shell which requires incubation

10. Feathers – Modified Scales
Three types of feather
Down feathers – insulation
Contour feathers – streamline shape, coloration, insulation
Flight feathers – specialized contour feathers
Preening – to put feathers back together again.
Molting – losing or shedding feathers

11. Systems of Birds
Digestion – no teeth-crop(stores food)-gizzard(grinds food)-stomach-intestines-anus
Respiratory-gas exchange highly efficient
Two-loop circulatory system w/4-chambered heart.
Large brain for body size with keen vision due to large optic lobes.
Birds migrate by a sense of magnetism to help navigate.

12. BIRD Facts Birds use an egg tooth to hatch out of their egg.
Flightless birds include penguin, ostrich & emu.
There are 29 orders of birds.
The order Passeriformes is the largest. These are song birds.