LIFE ON EARTH

LECTURE 4 - WATERPROOF EGG & SKIN: REPTILES

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptiles
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniote
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurs

Clockwise from above left: Green turtle The traditional class Reptilia (green field) are a
(Chelonia mydas), Tuatara (Sphenodon paraphyletic group comprising all non-avian and
punctatus), an agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus) non-mammalian amniotes.
and Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptiles)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptiles)
1. In reptiles the scaly skin is considered a major evolutionary innovation. Why?

2. What are the uses of scales?

3. Reptiles are ectotherms relying on external heat to warm up and be active. How does this
affect their lifestyle?

Summary of the situation 210-250 million years ago

 No flowering plants or grass yet!
 First dinosaurs appear (Mesozoic Era- 225 million years ago)
 Primitive mammals appear (mammal-like reptiles)
 Warm & dry climate

4. What other major innovations did reptiles have for living on land in terms of reproduction?

Summary: of the situation about 240 million years ago: Reptile diversification began
 Reptile group includes the dinosaurs, and ancestral forms of mammals & birds

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 All birds and mammals are descendants of reptilian ancestors

5. What radiation was seen in the dinosaurs that describes the success of early reptiles?

Vertebrate invasion of land- “Amniotic Egg”

Anatomy of an amniotic egg

1. Eggshell
2. Outer membrane
3. Inner membrane
4. Chalaza
5. Exterior albumen (outer thin albumen)
6. Middle albumen (inner thick albumen)
7. Vitelline membrane
8. Nucleus of Pander
9. Germinal disk (blastoderm)
10. Yellow yolk
11. White yolk
12. Internal albumen
13. Chalaza
14. Air cell
15. Cuticula

6. What is the waterproof egg important for?

7. Why did the amniotic egg provide a suitable micro-environment for the development of the
embryo?

8. When did dinosaurs dominate the Earth?

9. What caused their extinction?

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10. What are examples of modern reptile groups?

11. How does the diversity of modern reptiles compare to the “age of the reptiles” during the
Mesozoic?

Words to make sure you know the meaning of:

 Descendant
 Ancestral form
 Modern
 Micro-environment
 Dominate
 Ectotherm

Fill in on your Life on Earth time line: (1) When the dinosaurs were dominant on Earth, (2) When the
dinosaurs went extinct

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LECTURE 5 - LORDS OF THE AIR: BIRDS & FEATHERS

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight

Artist's impression of Anchiornis (a feathered dinosaur), illustrating feather arrangement and colors.

1. Flight has evolved in a number of different groups of animals. Which groups of animals can
fly?

2. What are the advantages of flight?

3. What is the most characteristic feature of birds (Class Aves)?

4. Would you agree that birds are just glorified reptiles? (and why)

5. Archaeopteryx is one of the best-known examples of early birds. What did it look like?

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6. What is special about feathers?

7. What does the hoatzin show about primitive birds?

8. What were some of the other adaptations birds needed as a consequence of flight?

CHALLENGE BOX
Great diversification of mammals, birds, insects & flowering plants began about 65 million years ago.
Why?
Fill in on your Life on Earth time line: (1) When Archaeopteryx lived, (2) When the birds underwent a
major radiation

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LECTURE 6 - LORDS OF THE AIR: BIRD RADIATION

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beak
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_anatomy
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguins

1. What other than feathers allowed the success of birds?

2. What are the constraints of flight?

3. Explain why different species of bird have different shaped beaks. Refer to the diagram below
in your answer, and explain the types of beaks shown here and what they are used for.

4. Why is a beak an adaptation to flight?

5. Despite beaks being adapted to specific types of feeding (e.g. cracking seeds, and drinking
nectar), what else are they used for?

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6. Why are penguins unusual birds?

7. What are the different feet shown here modified for?

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LECTURE 7 & 8 - EGGS, POUCHES & PLACENTAS:

MONOTREMES & MARSUPIALS

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotremes
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial

1. Which primitive mammals lay eggs?

2. What is an echidna?

3. Why is the platypus such a bizarre animal?

4. How are young mammals nourished?

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5. What are marsupials?

6. How does a marsupial differ to a monotreme?

7. What are the advantages of hair/fur?

8. How are tongues adapted in some mammal species for feeding on ants and termites?

Fill in on your Life on Earth time line: (1) When monotremes appeared, (2) When marsupials
appeared.
Places to identify on the map: Where do we find: (1) marsupials, and (2) monotremes.

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LECTURE 7 & 8 - EGGS, POUCHES & PLACENTAS:

EUTHERIANS

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutheria
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placenta

1. The mammals are divided into 3 groups. Describe these and explain their differences.

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2. The Eutherians are called ”true mammals”. Why?

An example of a eutherian

3. What are the advantages of being a placental mammal?

4. What are the other characteristics of Class Mammalia?

Fill in on your Life on Earth time line: When the first Eutherian mammal appeared.
Places to identify on the map: Where do we not find mammals?

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LECTURE 9 - MAMMAL RADIATION

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal

Examples of various mammalian orders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal)

The Cenozoic Era: The age of mammals

 Small mammals survived mesozoic extinction
 Underwent adaptive radiation to fill habitats left by extinct species
 Three subclasses: Monotremes, Marsupials, Placental mammals

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1. What are mammals’ closest relatives?

2. What were the earliest mammals like?

3. Mammals kept a low profile for about 150 million years, but evolved innovative features
superior to reptiles. What were these features?

4. What did early mammals eat?

5. At what time of day were early mammals active?

6. What is special about mammalian skin?

7. How is mammalian thermoregulation superior to that of modern reptiles?

Mammalian radiation
8. Since the start of the Cenozoic there has been a great radiation of mammals. Why?

9. Over evolutionary time, some members of the mammals have returned to the sea. Which
mammals are these?

10. What are the advantages of returning to a life in the sea?

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11. Use the diagram below to describe some of the trends in mammal radiation.

Mammal radiation
Places to identify on the map: Mexico
Fill in on your Life on Earth time line: When the (1) first mammals appeared and (2) when the
mammals radiated.

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CHALLENGE BOX
Use the diagrams below to explain convergent evolution in mammals

Examples of convergent evolution

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