BIO 203 LESSON 2

REPTILIA (REPTILES)
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Presence of scales.
2. They produce amniotic eggs
3. They have simple occipital condyle
4. Have single ear
5. They have three chambered heart
6. They are poikilothermic ( i.e. cold blooded)
• Reptiles are believed to have evolved from
amphibians during the carboniferous period, some
300 million years ago (mya).

• The original stocks were cotylosaurs which were

extinct about 150 mya during the Jurassic period.

• Before this, they radiated during the Mesozoic era

before going extinct due to environmental changes.

• They experienced drastic changes in the

• E.g. Birds and mammals evolved and preyed on the
eggs of the reptiles.

• There were 15 orders before the Mesozoic era but

only 4 orders remain extant (living).

• These are;
(i) Order Rhynchocephalia: This comprises a single
species called Sphenodont punctata (Tuatara).

(ii) Order Crocodilia- 25 species

(iv) Order Squamata.
• About 2,000 spp. These are the most dominant.

• They include the snakes and lizards.

Extinct orders include dinosaurs, marine reptiles

and therapsids. During the transition from
amphibians to reptiles, there were some changes.

A. Evolution of water proof skin consisting of dry

cornified skin covered with scales for water
conservation.
B. Improved lungs. The lungs became harder and
compact.

C. Protection of amniotic egg. This was necessary

against desiccation and also as a shock absorber. The
allantoid cavity was a store for secreting waste. The
allantrochorion was used for respiration. The eggs are
covered with leathery scales.

D. Improved kidneys. The terrestrial forms and all the

squamates produce uric acid through the biochemical
pathways.
 TAXANOMY OF REPTILES
SUB-CLASS ANAPSIDA
This class has no temporal opening behind the eye and
therefore the skull is compact.
Orders of this sub-class include:
1. Order Chelonia- Tortoises, turtles and terrapins.

In this order:
i. They have a shell of two elements i.e.; the skeletal
element, which consists of the vertebral column and
the ribs and the horny elements which comprises the
(ii) They have a plastron, which forms the
ventral part of the animal.

(iii) The chelonians have no teeth but they have

horny-like beak for cropping vegetation.

• Sub-orders of Chelonia
a. Sub-order Pleurodira is different because
- the neck folds sideways when withdrawn.
- Also, the pelvis is fused with the plastron.
eg snaked-necked turtle.
b. Sub-order Cryptodira
- The neck folds in a vertical plane when
withdrawn.
- Also the pelvis is not fused but free.

SUB-CLASS LEPIDOSAURIA

• This is either a diapsid or the temporal opening is

secondarily lost.

• They have scales on their body.

 Order Rhyncocephalia

• Members in this order are diapsid with a pair of

temporal foramen.

• They are found in New Zealand. E.g. Sphenodont

punctata

 Order Squamata
The skin has horny epidermal scales and they
have a quadrate bone which is movable.
 Sub-orders

i. Sub-order Lacertilia

• These are lizards and their mandibles are fused

anteriorly.

• They have movable eye-lids

• The tongue is usually entire.

 ii. Sub-order Ophidia (Serpents)

1. These are the snakes

2. The mandibles are joint anteriorly by a ligament

3. The tongue of ophidians is forked not entire.

4. They have secondarily lost both foramen in the

adult; but the juveniles still possess both.
• The lizards, including agamas, geckos, monitors,
stinks are cosmopolitan but not beyond North of
Europe.

• Snakes evolved from burrowing forms of original

stock and secondarily radiated to the surface above.

• They used to be subterranean/ fossorial.

 FAMILIES OF THE SUB-ORDER
OPHIDIA
1. Family Hydrophiidae. They are water snakes
They are venomous
2. Family Boridae. These are primitive snakes

3. Family Elapiidae. These are members of

green snakes

4. Family Viperiidae. These are rattle snakes.

5. Family Columbriidae. These are cobras.
They are venomous.

6. Family Typhlopiidae. They are extinct. They were

non-venomous. They were insectivorous. They
were fossorial i.e.. They lived underground in
holes and burrows

7. Family Leptotyphlopiidae. They are insectivorous.

They are non-venomous. They are fossorial. E.g.
worm snakes
 SUB-CLASS ARCHOSAURIA
• These are diapsids.
• The only surviving member is the order Crocodilia
(but included dinosaurs and flying reptiles).
• There are 25 species and are semi-aquatic.
• They have flattened tail, nose and eyes are raised.
• The internal nerves of crocodiles are supported by
valves.
Crocodiles are largest living reptiles. E.g. Crocodilus
porosus and it is 25 ft.
• Some reptiles have invaded the sea and have
problem in osmotic balance.

• They therefore take in water and the problem is to

get rid of excess salt in the blood .

• To solve this problem, the salt is quickly absorbed

into the blood.

• This process is called Extra-renal excretion.

(it occurs outside the kidney).
E.g.
• The marine turtle, the Caretta sp uses lachrymal
glands for the same purpose of extra-renal
excretion.

• In Iguana spp, the nasal gland in the nose are used

for extra-renal excretion.

• In the sea snakes, the natrial glands are used for

extra-renal excretion.

• Some reptiles have specialized in fish eating and

 COMPARISON OF THE EYES OF SNAKES AND LIZARDS

LIZARDS
1. Presence of fovea
2. Pigments are present in the
retina.
3. The retina is normal
SNAKE
1. Absence of fovea
2. Pigments are present in the
lens
3. Retina is with double cones

4. The sclera is present 4. Sclera is absent

5. During accommodation, they 5. During accommodation,
change the lens by ciliary lens is constant in shape but
muscles. moves forward and backwards
by the movement of the iris.