Unit 12 REVIEW: Vertebrates part II
Reptiles
1. Definition and classes of exothermic: Maintain their heat through outside forces (sunning themselves on
a rock, etc)
2. What are the three main groups of the class reptilian: __turtles, snakes, and lizards__________
3. Which reptiles have 3 chambered hearts: All except crocodiles and which have 4 chambered hearts:
Crocodiles have 4 chambers.
4. What are the differences between turtle, terrapin, and sea turtle? Tortoises = live on land. Sea turtles= live
only in water. Terrapins= semi-aquatic and live near brackish waters or swampy regions.
5. Give 3 examples of freshwater turtles: Red eared sliders, snapping turtles, and soft-shelled turtles
6. What does the law that was passed in May 2007 state? It banns the collection of terrapins
7. Can sea turtles retract their heads and limbs into their shells? NO
8. Give 4 examples of sea turtles: Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill, flatback, green, and
leatherback
9. Know how to identify these turtles below by their shells:
10. What is the difference in tail length in male and female turtles? Male’s tails are thicker and longer
11. What percentage of the female sea turtles life is spent on land? Males? Females spend about 90% of their
life in water – 10% on land. Males rarely return to land after their birth on the sand.
12. How long will it take a female to lay her eggs? Eggs take about 60 days to hatch.
13. Describe how temperature affects turtle gender. Cooler sand = more males, warmer sand = more females
14. How long after the turtle eggs are laid, do they hatch? About 60 days
15. On average how long do turtles live? 50+ years – similar to the lifespan of humans
16. Why are turtles going extinct? They are slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, sea turtles
suffer from poaching and over-exploitation
17. What is the largest of the sea turtles? The leatherback
18. There are/is __1___ species of marine crocodiles.
19. Alligators are found in fresh water.
20. Describe the difference in size between the Alligator and Crocodile. Crocodiles are much larger than
alligators.
21. Describe the jaw strength of alligators and crocodiles. Alligators have stronger jaws
22. The only marine lizard is the marine iguana it lives in the Galapagos Islands
23. Are there any true freshwater aquatic snakes? No
24. What oceans can sea snakes be found? Warm coastal waters from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. They
live in the tropical and warm regions, but not in the Atlantic Ocean,
25. How do sea snakes breathe? They come to the surface of the water to breathe. They have one elongated
cylindrical lung that extends for almost the entire length of their body and they can breathe through
their skin
26. Sea snakes have a salt gland that concentrates the salt and excretes it from their bodies
27. Define amniote: eggs/embryos laid by animals and anamniote: group of fish/amphibians which lay their
eggs in water.
28. Sea snakes kill their prey via poison called venom
29. The largest sea snake is the olive sea snake
Amphibians
30. What are some examples of amphibians? Toads, newts, tree frogs, salamanders, etc.
31. What change occurs from larvae to adulthood for amphibians? They go from having gills to lungs
32. How do you tell the difference between a frog and a toad? Frogs have smooth, moist skin and long, stripy
legs and are likely to be found in damp habitats in the garden. Toads have warty skin, golden eyes and
prefer to crawl rather than hop
33. How do poison dart frogs make their poison? But it is possible they adjust plant poisons from the
organisms they eat, including ants, termites and beetles
34. Are there any marine amphibians? NO
Birds
35. How many chambers are in their hearts: 4 – just like human hearts.
36. _3__% of Class Aves are marine.
37. What are the 3 groups of sea birds? Penguins, tubenoses, and pelicans
38. Definition and classes of endothermic: regulate their own body temperature from within.
39. Name the group of birds that can dive up to 875ft and stay submerged up to 10 minutes? The Emperor
Penguin
40. Do birds have salt glands? Yes
Mammals
41. What are the four common marine mammal features? Warm blooded, have hair or fur, breathe air
through lungs, bear live young, and nurse their young with milk from mother.
42. Whales have what type of fertilization? internal
43. Which marine mammals have the largest high brain to body weight ratio? dolphins
44. How do you tell the difference between seals and sea lions? Sea lions are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on
land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their
bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps
List animals found in the below suborders of Class Mammalia
45. Suborder Odonticeti: sperm whales, beaked whales, dolphins, etc.
46. Suborder Pinnipedia: seals, sea lions, walrus, etc.
47. Suborder Fissipedia: sea otters, polar bears, etc.
48. Suborder Mysticeti: whales
List animals found in the below orders of Class Mammalia
49. Order Cetacea: whales, porpoises, dolphins
50. Order Carnivora: seals, sea lions, meat eaters, etc.
51. Order Sirenia: manatees
52. Know your diagrams: whale, snake, and sea turtle