Deck 20: Reptiles: Nonavian Diapsid Amniotes

Question 1

Members of the order Squamata include the

A) turtles.
B) snakes.
C) tuataras.
D) crocodiles.

Answer 1

Classification of animals based on their descent from ancestral amniotes has been done depending on the number of openings present on the skull of these animals. Animals with a single opening (fenestra) has been grouped under synapsid lineage; those with two openings have been grouped under diapsid lineage and the ones with no opening have been grouped under anapsid lineage.
Since the skull has two temporal fenestrae, it would not belong to the synapsid lineage and thus cannot be a mammal.
Thus option (a) is incorrect.
Though it is true that it could have been a member of the diapsid lineage, it could not have been an ancestor of modern mammals as common ancestor of synapsid and diapsid lineage shad an anapsid skull.
Thus option (b) is incorrect.
It could not have been a member of the anapsid lineage as it has two openings and anapsids do not have any openings on the skull.
Thus option (d) is incorrect.
Since the skull has two openings, it could have been a member of the diapsid lineage and could also have been an ancestor of modern lizard as lizards are diapsids.
Thus correct option is (c).

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of reptiles?

A) respiration via lungs
B) two condyles for articulation with the first neck vertebra
C) metanephric kidneys
D) internal fertilization
E) amniotic eggs

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Sea turtles utilize ________ as an aid to navigation to nesting beaches.

A) sight
B) smell
C) direction of ocean currents
D) their sense of hearing
E) magnetic fields

Answer 3

E

Question 4

All reptiles periodically shed the outer, epidermal layers of the skin in a process called ecdysis.

A) True
B) False

Question 5

Most reptiles lack vocal cords; indeed, vocalizations are only important to

A) tuataras.
B) snakes.
C) crocodilians.
D) lizards.
E) amphisbaenids.

Question 6

Only in the __________ reptiles is the ventricular septum in the heart complete.

A) crocodilian
B) serpentilian
C) saurian
D) amphisbaenian
E) chelonian

Question 7

The incompletely divided ventricle of reptiles is sometimes portrayed as an evolutionary transition between the heart of primitive amphibians and the completely divided ventricles of birds and mammals. Do you agree with this portrayal? Why or why not?

Question 8

Members of three of the four living orders of reptiles are found on all continents except

A) Asia.
B) Africa.
C) Australia.
D) Antarctica.
E) Europe.

Question 9

Most living reptiles are

A) endothermic.
B) ectothermic.
C) homeothermic.
D) isothermic.
E) eurythermic.

Question 10

The partial septum in the ventricle of most reptiles is
a. evidence that reptiles are less highly evolved than birds and mammals, whose ventricles are completely divided.
b. an adaptation that allows shunting of blood from the pulmonary to the systemic circuit during periods of intermittent breathing.
c. a shunting mechanism that is especially well developed in turtles.
d. Both b and c are correct.

Question 11

Turtles belong to the reptilian order

A) Squamata.
B) Caudata.
C) Rhynchocephalia.
D) Crocodilia.
E) Testudines.

Question 12

In snakes and some lizards, upper and lower eyelids become fused in the embryo to form a protective window for clear skin, the

A) nictitating membrane.
B) iris.
C) fovea.
D) ciliary body.
E) spectacle.

Question 13

What effect could significant global warming have on the sex ratios of crocodilians? Speculate on what long-term effects might be seen in populations of crocodilians as a result of global warming.

Question 14

The dorsal portion of a turtle shell is called the

A) carapace.
B) cephalothorax.
C) plastron.
D) sternum.
E) dorsum.

Question 15

Among reptiles, a form of asexual reproduction known as __________ has been described in six families of lizards and one species of snake.

A) biparentalism
B) protandry
C) protogyny
D) hermaphroditism
E) parthenogenesis

Question 16

The amniotic membranes may be considered to be a(n) __________ distinguishing reptiles, birds, and mammals from other vertebrates.

A) synapomorphy
B) symplesiomorphy
C) analogy
D) homology
E) vestigial structure

Question 17

The __________ makes up the ventral portion of the turtle shell.

A) dorsum
B) plastron
C) sternum
D) carapace
E) scute

Question 18

Reptiles that are usually solitary may migrate to common sites called __________ to spend the winter.

A) torpor clines
B) communes
C) hibernacula
D) aggregations
E) sleep societies

Question 19

Early members of the class Reptilia were the first to produce

A) neotenic larvae.
B) amniotic eggs.
C) urea as a nitrogenous waste.
D) tadpole larvae.
E) isolecithal eggs.

Question 20

Worm lizards belong to the reptilian order

A) Caudata.
B) Chelonia.
C) Squamata.
D) Sphenodontida.
E) Testudines.

Question 21

Enlargement of cerebral hemispheres in reptiles is associated with

A) improved memory capacity.
B) better vision.
C) improved muscular coordination.
D) an improved sense of smell.
E) better hearing.

Question 22

This group of animals includes only two extant species.

A) lizards
B) snakes
C) turtles
D) tuataras
E) crocodilians

Question 23

Lizards belong to the suborder

A) Serpentes.
B) Chelonia.
C) Amphisbaenia.
D) Sauria.
E) Caudata.

Question 24

__________ are used to analyze odor molecules brought into a snake's mouth by its forked tongue.

A) Jacobson's organs
B) Eustachian passages
C) Semicircular canals
D) Parietal eyes
E) Pit organs

Question 25

Which is the only group of animals listed below with anapsid skulls?

A) lizards
B) tuataras
C) snakes
D) turtles
E) crocodiles

Question 26

Which of the following is a venomous lizard?

A) flying dragon
B) gecko
C) iguana
D) chuckwalla
E) Mexican beaded lizard

Question 27

Many lizards have __________ glands beneath the eyes.

A) excretory
B) salt
C) uric acid
D) ammonia
E) water

Question 28

Reptiles of the __________ lineage lack openings in the temporal region of the skull.

A) synapsid
B) diapsid
C) amphiapsid
D) triapsid
E) anapsid

Question 29

The __________ are distinguished from all other vertebrates by the presence of a single median tooth in the upper jaw.

A) worm lizards
B) chameleons
C) geckos
D) gila monsters
E) tuataras

Question 30

Which of the following groups of animals is not derived from the Archosaurian lineage?

A) birds
B) dinosaurs
C) lizards
D) crocodiles
E) alligators

Question 31

Reptiles of the __________ lineage had upper and lower openings in the temporal region of the skull.

A) diapsid
B) amphiapsid
C) anapsid
D) synapsid
E) triapsid

Question 32

Tuataras have an extremely limited distribution; they are now limited only to a few islands off the shore of

A) Australia.
B) Ecuador.
C) California.
D) England.
E) New Zealand.

Question 33

This group is considered to be the most closely related to ancestral amniotes.

A) mammals
B) snakes
C) lizards
D) birds
E) turtles

Question 34

The skin of reptiles

A) lacks chromatophores.
B) is never shed.
C) functions in respiration.
D) is shed in order to grow.
E) has mucus glands.

Question 35

The tuatara belongs to the reptilian order

A) Squamata.
B) Chelonia.
C) Sphenodontida.
D) Testudines.
E) Caudata.

Question 36

Lizards and snakes may lose their tails to escape from predators, this process is known as

A) ecdysis.
B) molting.
C) corneation.
D) synapsis.
E) autonomy.

Question 37

In the crocodilians, a plate of bone called the __________ separates the nasal and mouth passageways.

A) sternohyoid
B) pharynx
C) nasopharynx
D) secondary palate
E) hyoid apparatus

Question 38

All of the following are a part of the reptilian lineage, except one. Select the exception.

A) Mammals
B) Snakes
C) Lizards
D) Dinosaurs
E) Birds

Question 39

Reptiles have a skin with scales made of

A) silica.
B) bone.
C) CaCO3.
D) keratin.
E) chitin.

Question 40

Crocodilians are oviparous and display parental care of young that parallels that of

A) bony fishes.
B) sharks.
C) placental mammals.
D) amphibians.
E) birds.

Question 41

What characteristics of the life history of turtles make them vulnerable to extinction? What steps do you think should be taken to protect endangered turtle species?

Question 42

A group of synapsids called the therapsids gave rise to

A) turtles.
B) birds.
C) snakes.
D) lizards.
E) mammals.

Question 43

The first cervical vertebra of a reptile is the __________ which articulates with a single condyle on the skull.

A) axis
B) atlas
C) initial
D) servo
E) scapula

Question 44

A researcher found a fossilized amniote skull with two temporal fenestrae. Which of the following statements regarding this skull would be TRUE?

A) It would have been a member of the synapsid lineage and was probably an early mammal.
B) It would have been a member of the diapsid lineage and could have been an ancestor of a modern mammal.
C) It would have been a member of the diapsid lineage and could have been an ancestor of a modern lizard.
D) It would have been a member of the anapsid lineage-probably an ancient turtle.

Question 45

Reptilia is considered a paraphyletic assemblage because it excludes this order of animals.

A) Testudines
B) Crocodylia
C) Aves
D) Sphenodontida
E) Squamata

Question 46

Venom glands of snakes are modified

A) thyroid glands.
B) tongue papillae.
C) taste buds.
D) salivary glands.
E) tooth sockets.