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11 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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List 5 characteristics that distinguish marine reptiles.
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Scales (prevent water loss)
- Oviparous, leathery eggs laid on land (don’t dry out) Ectotherms (cold-blooded) Efficient kidneys Efficient air breathers |
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List 6 characteristics of sea turtles (Order Chelonia).
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Body is in their shell (carapace) that is fused to their backbone.
They have light weight/spongy bones that help with buoyancy. Their shells are flattened and stream lined so they cant retract their head into their shell. Their front legs are modified into flippers, rear legs for steering/ digging. They don’t have teeth, but have a strong biting and crushing jaw. They have salt glands. (turtle tears) |
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Describe reproduction in turtles including: fertilization (internal or external?) & nesting.
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Turtles reproduce using internal fertilization with a paired mate inside the water.
They make long migrations to remote and sandy beaches to nest. Nesting is when the female goes to shore, digs a hole with her flippers and lays multiple clutches of eggs each ranging from 100 to 200. They are buried in the sand and hatch within 60 days when the babies dig out at night and head towards the sea. (cold-male, warm-female) |
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What is the benefit of laying eggs vs. external fertilization?
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The benefit of laying eggs is that the turtles can lay a large amount of them, so a significant number of them will actually survive.
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What human activities have endangered sea turtles? (List at least 3)
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Direct egg/ fishing collection for food or jewelry
Gill and shrimp nets Trash Costal Development |
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What adaptation distinguishes Order Squamata (sea snakes) from terrestrial snakes?
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laterally flattened tail that is paddle-shaped for swimming, since they lack the belly scales that allow terrestrial snakes to move.
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What type of reproduction do sea snakes have?
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mate in the ocean and are ovoviviparous, give birth to live young. Although, some come ashore to lay their eggs.
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Why are sea snakes overexploited?
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Sea snakes are overexploited for their skins.
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Sea snakes have venomous fangs, but are rarely a threat to humans – why not?
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The sea snakes do have fixe fangs full of poisonous venom, but their mouths can not open very big. So they can not get a good bite on a human.
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What do marine iguanas eat? What adaptations do they have to help them get this food?
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Marine iguanas are herbivores, they dive up to 33 feet in search of seaweed. They have a laterally flattened tail that helps them swim.
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List the method of salt extraction for each Order of marine reptiles.
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Order Chelonia (sea turtles): They have salt glands for turtle tears.
Order Squamata (sea snakes): They have salt glands located on their tongues. Marine Iguana: They have salt glands located on the top of their heads. Order Crocodilla (saltwater crocodile): They have salt-excreting glands on their tongues. |
