find two species from our region (California): one squamate and one Testudine using the links below. Once you find a species you’re interested in, answer the following questions for each species you chose.
Tips for using the links: The website below provides a lot of great information about California’s herps. After selecting a species, general information, including habitat, behavior, general description, etc. will be located towards the bottom of the page.
Squamates:
Lizards: http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/lizards.html (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.)Snakes: http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/snakes.html (Links to an external site.)
Testudines: http://www.californiaherps.com/turtles/turtles.html
(1) Using the images from the above links, draw your chosen species and identify and describe 3 distinguishing characteristics. These can be characters/apomorphies discussed in class or you can use the information within each of the links to help you. (also, make sure you specify the scientific name).
(2) Identify the habitat your species typically occupies and describe how their morphology is specialized to that specific environment. (Hint: use the habitat descriptions from your online lab readings as discussed within the ‘Lepidosauria’ section to help you with this part of the exercise)
(3) How does this species differ from the amphibians in terms of physiology and/or habitat?
(4) What is one thing you found interesting about this species?
EXERCISE 2 QUESTIONS:
1) Study the images of Archaeopteryx from the lab slides below and name three visible features that are ancestral reptile characters that modern birds have lost. Name one features that is retained in modern birds. Do you think this specimen should be considered the first bird? Why or why not? (Picture 1)
(2) Bird skeletons are extremely modified from early tetrapod skeletons. Using the images from the slides below, draw and label three observable characters that are unique to only the birds (aves). Briefly describe how those characters have lead to the successful lifestyle of modern birds (i.e. powered flight). (picture 2)
EXERCISE 3 QUESTIONS:
(1) The bills of each group of birds (A-H) correspond to a unique feeding specialty. Draw a quick sketch of each bill (just one drawing per group is fine). Then, based on those morphological structures, identify their most likely feeding habits using the following list of options: sand prober, fish eater, raptor, water strainer, insect eater, insect netter, nectar feeder or seed cracker.
(2) Briefly describe how the bird’s bill morphology is related to its function.
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