Herpetology: Physiological Ecology

Front 1

The body of an amphibian or reptile is composed of about how much water?

Back 1

70-80% water

Front 2

What are the critical ions for normal physiological functions?

Back 2

Sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium and chloride ions.

Front 3

For an organism to function normally, the ionic concentrations of intra- and extracellular fluids must remain...

Back 3

Within certain specific limits.

Front 4

The nitrogenous byproducts of metabolism must be removed from the body to avoid what?

Back 4

Poisoning the organism

Front 5

The epidermis of the skin of most reptiles is covered with scales, which reduces what?

Back 5

Water gain and loss

Front 6

Water is acquired by amphibians and reptiles though the following:

Back 6

Drinking (reptiles only)
Food (preformed water)
Integument
Metabolism
*some species*--through the lining of the cloaca or esophagus.

Front 7

For amphibians, water crosses the skin primarily though________and less so by ______.

Back 7

Osmosis; Diffusion

Front 8

Osmotic water gain occurs in amphibians that live in _______ habitats.

Back 8

Freshwater

Front 9

Describe the increase of body fluids and decrease of solute concentration of amphibians in freshwater

Back 9

The ambient water has a lower ionic concentration than the body fluids, and water enters the body, increasing the volume of the body fluids and thereby decreasing the concentration of solutes.

Front 10

When water deficits occur, terrestrial amphibians can obtain water by the following:

Back 10

Pressing their ventral surfaces against damp substrate.

By entering crevices or burrows where ventral and lateral skin surfaces absorb water.

Breakdown of food may supply a small amount of metabolic water .

Front 11

Skin differs from aquatic to terrestrial amphibians in which aquatic species have_______skin as terrestrial species have_______skin.

Back 11

Smooth ventral skin
Granular ventral skin

Front 12

What terrestrial species have smooth venters?

Back 12

Rana -- Live near water
Leptodactylus -- Rain forest species
Dendrobatids -- Rain forest species

Front 13

What is the specialized area of the skin called on the ventral surface of anuran thighs?

Back 13

Pelvic patch

Front 14

The pelvic patch is what than any other skin surface?

Back 14

Highly vascularized

Front 15

By appressing this pelvic patch to moist soil, a frog can what?

Back 15

Absorb water

Front 16

The granular skin surface of frogs, especially toads, also creates what to keep the dorsal surface moist?

Back 16

Creates narrow grooves that serve as water channels

Evaporation from the back pulls water onto the back via molecular adhesion, and capillary action pulls water from the venter, which is in contact with the soil.

Front 17

Salamanders have numerous vertical body grooves, the largest of which is called what and what do they do?

Back 17

The Costal grooves, and these grooves channel water from the salamander underside to its back.

Front 18

This type of skin is more highly vascularized and enhances water absorption.

Back 18

Granular skin

Front 19

Unlike amphibians, reptiles gain almost no water through____.

Back 19

Their Skin

*Exceptions do apply*

Front 20

What happens with water as some desert species of reptiles enter cool burrows during drought?

Back 20

Water condenses on their skin for them to drink.

Front 21

Some species of South African Tortoises can collect water in their shells during rainfall. Explain.

Back 21

By posturing with the posterior portion of the carapace elevated higher than the anterior portion, an individual can cause the water to run along the edges of the ridged carapace toward its head.

Front 22

Some desert lizards in xeric environments are capable of acquiring water from their skin by:

Back 22

Capillary transport of water toward the mouth through channels between scales.

Typically the body is arche during rainstorms in P. cornutum, and water moves from the back to the mouth.

Front 23

Production of what contributes to osmoregulation in some species of reptiles?

Back 23

Metabolic water

Front 24

In Dipsosaurus dorsalis, metabolic water contributes what percent to total water gain?

Back 24

12%

Front 25

Variable amount of water are obtained from food, but the impact of this water depends on what concentration of the food?

Back 25

Electrolyte concentration

Front 26

What kind of adjustments are the overriding mechanisms for water retention in terrestrial amphibians and reptiles?

Back 26

Behavioral adjustments

*Most species adjust daily & seasonal activity to minimize water loss.*

Front 27

Can reptiles produce enough metabolic water to survive? What affects this production?

Back 27

Reptiles cannot produce metabolic water at a rate that exceeds their evaporative water loss.

Front 28

Water is lost through the following 3 ways:

Back 28

Evaporation
Respiration
Excretion

Front 29

Reptiles have a variety of water-storage sites. what is the most common site?

Back 29

The Bladder