BIOL-3030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Foramen, Ophiophagy, Hydrophiinae
Document Summary
Reptile diversity (part 2 lepidosaurs and archosaurs): lecture 17. Clade lepidosauria: living species about 3,315 snakes and 5,460 lizards, snakes are a subclade of lizards, first fossils from the jurassic. Lepidosaur characteristics: transverse cloacal slit (vent, salamander longitudinal vent, lizard transverse vent, other fun facts, scaly skin that is impermeable to water, diverse habitats, mostly terrestrial, many species have reduced limbs. Iguania: scleroglossa, serpentes and amphisbaenia origin within scleroglossa, exact position is not known. Lizard diversity: social behavior in iguanians vs. sclerogloassans. In general for lizards: limited compared to archosaurs, sexual dimorphism, males are typically bigger, signals have multiple uses, often the same for agnostic interactions, scleroglossans (including snakes) use pheromones extensively. Iguanian diversity 2: chameleons: specialized arboreal lizard, zygodactylus (crab-claw) feet, prehensile tail, laterally compressed, specialized tongue. Independently mobile eyes and binocular vision: typically diurnal (daytime active, primarily insectivorous.
