Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Province of Laguna

Level I Institutionally Accredited

NAME: Abrigo, Bernadeth A. SUBJECT: GENERAL ZOOLOGY

YR&SECTION: 2-Psychology-A-1 PROFESSOR: Ms. Agnes Bitong

Week 15
Reptiles: Diapsid Amniotes
Online Assignment
Multiple Choice: For each item, choose the option representing what you think is the best
answer.

1. A. Mammals
2. B. snakes
3. A. True
4. B. an adaptation that allows shunting of blood from the pulmonary to the systemic
circuit during periods of intermittent breathing
5. A. provides nourishment to the cells of reptiles
6. C. carapace
7. A. kinetic skull
8. C. Sphenodontia
9. A. more
10. C. Autotomy

Online Quiz

Essay: Give each item your briefest and most concise answer. An item is worth 6 points, except
for when it requires a longer explanation, which will be indicated.

1. In addition to the amniotic egg, what characteristics unite the birds and other
reptiles?

 Birds and reptiles have a lot in common, such as scaly integuments, skeletal
system features, and reproductive processes. Birds are considered as reptiles
because they descended from a group of dinosaurs which are known as theropods.
Birds and all other living reptiles have one thing in common when it comes to
their circulatory systems: their red blood cells (erythrocytes) have nuclei. The
existence of a single middle ear bone, rather than the set of three found in most
mammals, is another similarity between non-avian reptiles and birds. In addition,
unlike mammals, birds and non-avian reptiles' lower jawbones are made up of
five fused bones rather than a single solid bone.
 Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Province of Laguna

Level I Institutionally Accredited

2. How would you explain the fact that the snakes, lizards, and worm lizards, although
superficially very different in body form and ecology, are members of the same
order?

 Reptiles are cold-blooded, air-breathing animals with scaly bodies rather than hair
or feathers; most reptile species lay eggs, while certain “squamates” – lizards,
snakes, and worm-lizards — give birth to live offspring. On land, reptiles deposit
eggs encased in shells. Even aquatic reptiles come ashore to deposit their eggs.
Internal fertilization is the most common method of reproduction for them.
Moreover, they also have a highly movable head and jaw, which helps with
eating.

3. What adaptations are present in non-avian reptiles that have made their life on land
possible?

 The creation of reptiles' scaly skin, which includes the protein keratin and waxy
lipids to reduce water loss from the skin, was one of the fundamental adaptations
that allowed them to survive on land. Reptiles, like amphibians, cannot breathe
through their skin because of their occlusive skin; they must rely on their lungs.
Ectotherms are animals whose primary source of body heat is derived from their
surroundings. Endotherms, on the other hand, control body temperature using heat
produced by metabolism.

4. Explain the statement that “the amniotic egg provided solutions that made
development apart from external watery environments possible.”

 The development of the amniote egg is often considered as a watershed moment

in vertebrate evolution, since it allowed eggs to be deposited away from standing
water, completing the transition from aquatic to completely terrestrial life. The
amnion protects the embryo from drying out, which is essential for survival on
land. The shell and membranes provide a secure, aqueous environment for an
embryo to grow from a few cells to an animal with eyes, ears, a brain, and a heart.

5. Compare the characteristics of the members of the orders Testudines and

Crocodylia.

 The group Testudines (“having a shell”) includes turtles, terrapins, and tortoises,
all of which have a bony or cartilaginous shell. Although many species dwell in or
near water, all turtles are oviparous, meaning they lay their eggs on land. None of
them show signs of parental concern. The speckled padloper tortoise is 8
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Laguna State Polytechnic University
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Province of Laguna

centimeters (3.1 inches)

Level I Institutionally Accredited long, whereas the leatherback sea turtle is 200

centimeters long (over 6 feet). The name "turtle" is often used to refer solely to
Testudines that live in the sea, while "tortoise" and "terrapin" are used to refer to
Testudines that dwell on land and in fresh water, respectively. On the other hand,
crocodilia (“small lizard”) emerged as a separate lineage during the middle
Triassic, with alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans as living species. They
live in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish environments including rivers and
lakes, and spend the most of their life in water. Crocodiles are derived from
terrestrial reptiles, therefore they can still walk and sprint. They frequently move
in a swimming manner on their bellies, powered by alternate leg motions. Some
animals, on the other hand, can raise their bodies off the ground by drawing their
legs in beneath them and rotating their feet to face front.