Dinosaur and Reptile Classification

traditional classification scheme 1. Subclass Anapsida (cotylosaurs, turtles) 2. Subclass Synapsida (pelycosaurs, mammallike reptiles; Dimetrodon) 3. Subclass Euryapsida (marine reptiles; ichthyosaurus & Plesiosaurs) 4. Subclass Archosauria (ruling reptiles) 5. Subclass Lepidosauria (scaly reptilesmosasaurs)

Temporal Fenestre

Cladistic Scheme

Dinosaurs: A General Overview

"age of reptiles" mid-late Triassic (250 mya)- Cretaceous (180 mya) Thecodont ancestry

size: initially small--->huge

skeleton
hollow bones
bipedalism unique pelvic structure (triradiate & quadraradiate pelvic structures) tail large; carried off the ground as a counterweight

"The Great Extinction"

occurred at the end of the Mesozoic (65 mya) > 50% of all species became extinct

all tetrapods > 10kg & all marine reptiles went extinct
~ 90% of all protists went extinct extinctions occurred over a period of 10,000-100,000 years or immediately

extinction hypotheses
climatic change- equitability and seasonality changed
impact with extra terrestrial body

exotic species exchange via land bridges

Modern Reptiles
diversity: 6000 species turtles (anapsid reptiles) snakes & lizards/squamates (lepidosaurs) crocodilians tuatara (Spenodon) amniotes ectotherms (Their blood is NOT cold!)

Integument
epidermal scales chromatophores ecdysis = molting/shedding claws few skin glands
dry; water proof & mechanical barrier

Skeleton
one occipital condyle
ossified skull
temporal openings- anapsid, diapsid, synapsid

secondary palate in some

Circulation/Respiration
three or four chambered heart

no diaphragm lungs

Excretory System
metanephric kidneys uric acid & urea

Feeding
herbivores & carnivores

venom glands Jacobson's organ

Reproduction
internal fertilization
oviparous, ovo-viviparous, & viviparous hemipenis parthenogenesis

Chelonia (Turtles)
bizarre skeleton ribs fused & outside limb girdles carapace plastron dermal scales ridged beak- no teeth true penis long lived & long generation times oviparity temperature determine sex & survival no parental care

Squamata (snakes & lizards)

diapsid lineage
second largest tetrapod group paired copulatory organ protrusible tongue Jacobson's organ

Lizards (Suborder Lacertia)

3300 species; (3 cm- 3 m); 75 Kg most are small (80% < 20 grams) differences from snakes: eyelids -vs- fused spectacle; swivel eyes and color vision external & middle ear -vs- none fused -vs- unfused mandibular symphysis limbs & girdles tail autotomy zygodactylous feet prehensile tails protrusible tongue

Lizard Families
Iguanidae- North & South America Scincidae- cosmopolitan Teiidae- North & South America

Snakes (suborder Serpentes)

limblessness reduction or loss of left lung loss of external and middle ear No eyelids

Family Colubridae Family Elapidae Family Viperidae

Snake Venom
Hemotoxic- Crotalus, Agkistrodon Neurotoxic- Elapidae

Symptoms & Treatment

Crocodylia
survivors of the anthracosaur radiation ectotherms

4-chambered heart
Family Aligatoridae Family Crocodylidae Family Gavialidae