VOCAB
CHELONIA TURTLES & TORTOISES Only reptile WITH shell Only reptile WITHOUT TEETH TURTLES: Live in or near water TORTOISES: Stay on land
SQUAMATA LIZARDS SNAKES
JACOBSON’s ORGAN An extrasensory organ in the roof of a snake's mouth Sharpens its sense of smell. Two hollow, highly sensitive saclike structures Allows it to track both prey and potential mates
Pit vipers, pythons, and some boas have HEAT SENSING ORGANS “Pit" organ located between the eye and the nostril on each side of the head. Detects heat given off by warm-blooded prey
Constrictors Wrap around prey and kill by suffocation Ex: Boa constrictors
VIPERS Inject venom with large movable fangs Ex: rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins Images from:
ELAPIDS Inject venom with small fixed (non-movable) fangs Ex: cobras, kraits, coral snakes
AUTOTOMY seen in some lizards Self amputation to escape predators Can’t regrow Costly; lose muscle/stored fat
CROCODILIA Crocodiles & Alligators Crocodile Long V-shaped snout Teeth exposed when jaw shut Brackish/ocean water Alligator Rounder U-shaped snout Teeth hidden when jaw shut Fresh water Images from:
RHYNCHOCEPHALIA “spiny crested” lizard relatives Once common now only two species of tuatara on islands near New Zealand Parietal “3 rd eye” Images from: