Amphibians and Reptiles Student Notes

• *Herpetology is the study of ___________________________

What is an amphibian?
- 4000+ species
- Gave rise to ____________________________
- Amphibian means ‘_______________________’
- Larvae start life in ___________ with __________ , adults are terrestrial with ___________
Evolutionary adaptations for life on land:
1. stronger _____________
2. _____________ and breathing tubes
3. sternum (breastbone) and ribs to protect _______________________

3 orders of amphibians survive today;

1. Frogs and Toads
2. Salamanders
3. Caecilians

Form and Function

• Feeding: larvae = ________________, adults = mostly _________________
• Digestive tract; mouth > esophagus > stomach > small intestines > large intestine (colon)
> cloaca (_______________________________________)
• Respiration: larva = skin and gills, adult = _________ and some through _________
- Many terrestrial salamanders = no lungs at all, through skin and mouth cavity
Reproduction: females lay eggs in ___________, male deposits _________over ____________;
Larvae commonly called _____________.
• Kingdom Animalia
....Phylum Chordata
.........Subphylum Vertebrata
..............Class _______________
Order Urodela (_______________________________________) long
bodies and tails, lives in moist woods
Order Anura (________________________) hop/jump with legs, adult
has no tail
Order Apoda (Caecilians) legless with fishlike scales
Reptiles
Characteristics
• Characteristics of Reptiles
1. _________________________________ and ________________________
2. __________________ (cold-blooded)
3. Dry ____________ skin
4. __________________ eggs
5. Respiration with lungs
6. Ventricle partially divided
7. _____________________fertilization
The Amniote Egg
– Contains _______________ and food supply for the developing embryo and can
be laid on land.
– Must be fertilized _________________, has a ______________