Vocabulary Review Ch 41 - Reptiles

One of a varied group of mostly extinct reptiles that lived from about 235 million years ago to about 66 million years ago Dinosaur

Asteroid impact hypothesis An explanation for the mass extinction of most of the dinosaurs; holds that a giant asteroid struck Earth and caused catastrophic climate change about 66 million years ago Asteroid impact hypothesis

A type of egg that is produced by reptiles, birds, and egg-laying mammals and that contains a large amount of yolk; usually surrounded by a leathery or hard shell within which the embryo and its embryonic membranes develop Amniotic egg

In mammals, birds, and reptiles, the membrane that contains a developing embryo and its surrounding fluid Amnion

The membrane that is attached to a vertebrate embryo and that encloses the yolk and thus stores energy reserves for the developing embryo Yolk sac

A membranous sac that acts as an organ of respiration and nutrition for the embryo; in humans, its blood vessels become the blood vessels of the umbilical cord Allantois

The outer membrane that surrounds an embryo Chorion

The white of an egg, composed primarily of the protein albumin Albumen

A hard protein that forms hair, bird feathers, nails, and horns Keratin

A thick wall between the right and left chambers of the heart Septum

Any of the tiny air cells of the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged Alveolus

An olfactory sac that opens into the mouth and is highly developed in reptiles Jacobson’s organ

The processes by which the body regulates its internal temperature Thermoregulation

An organism that needs sources of heat outside of itself Ectotherm

In egg-laying amniotes, a reproductive method in which the female’s reproductive tract encloses each egg in a tough, protective shell Oviparity

In amniotes, a reproductive method wherein shelled eggs are produced, develop, and sometimes hatch inside the body of the mother Ovoviviparity

In amniotes, a reproductive method in which eggs that lack shells are produced and develop inside the body of the mother, who then gives birth to the offspring Viviparity

The structure that attaches a developing fetus to the uterus and that enables the exchange of nutrients, wastes, and gases between the mother and the fetus Placenta

A shield-like plate that covers the cephalothorax of some crustaceans and reptiles Carapace

The bottom, or ventral, portion of a turtle’s shell Plastron

The ability of an organism to drop a body part and, usually, to regenerate a new one Autotomy

A snake that kills its prey by crushing and suffocating it Constrictor

A venomous snake that has two small, fixed fangs in the front of the mouth Elapid

A venomous snake that has two large, mobile fangs at the front of the mouth Viper