BIOL108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: Gila Monster, Hemipenis, Pterosaur

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Biology (Biological Sciences)
• Course: BIOL108
• Professor: Lien Luong

Document Summary

Greater reproduction = higher relative fitness lizards have external ear openings vs. snakes do not lizards have well-developed limbs vs. extant snakes have no obvious external limbs. Extant" snakes because some skeletal remnants of hind legs were discovered in some pythons. Mode of nutrition lizards - mostly predators of insects & small vertebrates. Common characteristics: loosely jointed jaws & skull. Most lizards & crocodiles do not chew. Only a few are poisonous- e. g. gila monster, komodo dragons. Mostly prey on vertebrates but some eat invertebrates they kill prey by suffocation (constriction) / venom. Cannot chew; so either swallow prey whole / spin to rip off chunks their closest living relative (sister taxon) is the birds! Extant species can walk on land- some can gallop" for short distances. Males have single intromittent organ (like turtles) Maternal care lay eggs in nest, guard nest and carry the young in mouth and communicate with sound.