2019 Herpetology SciOly

Study online at quizlet.com/_6ekbmy

1. Acris Cricket frogs 24. Basking Light A light or overhead heating element that
produces an area of higher heat in an
2. (a)estivation state of animal dormancy, similar to
enclosure required by the reptile for
hibernation, characterized by inactivity
digestion
and a lowered metabolic rate, that is
entered in response to high temperatures 25. Batesian mimicry in which an edible animal is
and arid conditions, covers body in mimicry protected by its resemblance to a noxious
mucus and buries itself one that is avoided by predators.
3. Aggregate A group of individuals drawn together 26. Batrachoseps Slender salamanders
due to some environmental attraction
27. Beak Hard or bony mouthparts on chelonians and
(safe sleeping area, basking areas, food
some tadpoles
source, mating).
28. Bifurcated Notched in two, such as a snake's tongue.
4. albino A lack of pigment in the skin. (Pinkness
Iguana tongues have a small, deep pink
comes from the blood color)
notch in the tip, often only visible once the
5. Ambient Surrounding temperature; room air iguana has reached a year or so of age.
temperature
29. Boomslangs Rear fanged snakes, usually inject venom by
6. ambient The overall temperature of the the back fangs
temperature environment.
30. Brumation Torpor induced by prolonged periods of
7. Ambystomatidae Mole Salamanders low temperatures.
8. Amelanistic Skin lacks all melanin, the substance 31. Buccal The tissues in the mouth (roof, walls, gums).
which produces brown and black
32. Bufonidae true toads
coloring in the skin
33. carapace A bony or hard shell that covers part or all
9. Amphicoelous both the anterior and posterior surfaces
of an animal. Turtles, crabs, and boxfish are
of the centrum concave
good examples.
10. Amphiumidae Amphiumas
34. Carbuncle Egg tooth, used by oviparous species to cut
11. Aneides Green/climbing salamanders a slit in their shell through which they will
push their way out.
12. anterior Pertains to the front or head end.
35. carnivore Animals who hunt and eat other animals;
13. anterioventral Pertains to the front of the lower surface.
meat eater.
14. Anura frogs and toads
36. Carnivorous Eats only animal flesh
15. anus An opening at the base of the tale. (see
37. casque The head or crest of an animal
cloaca)
38. Caudal Towards the tail end of the body
16. Aposematism antipredator adaptations in which a
warning signal is associated with the 39. cephalothorax The tagma of found in some arthropods, it is
unprofitability of a prey item to potential a segment comprising the head and the
predators. thorax fused together, and is distinct from
the abdomen behind.
17. Aquatic Lives in, or mostly in, water
40. Chelonian A collective term referring to turtles and
18. aquatic Lives in the water.
tortoises
19. Arboreal Living in or climbing trees
41. chelonians Pertaining to turtles, terrapins, and tortoises.
20. arboreal Lives in trees or bushes.
42. Chronic Of long duration
21. arthropod An invertebrate animal having an
43. CL Carapace length.
exoskeleton (external skeleton), a
segmented body, and jointed 44. Cloaca A passage used for eliminating fecal, urinary
appendages. and reproductive discharges. From the Latin
word meaning "sewer".
22. Ataxia Loss of muscle coordination.
45. cloaca A chamber that opens through the anus that
23. Autotomy The defensive release of the tail; also
is used for both excretion and reproduction.
refers to the auto-amputation of toes or
by constriction of retained skin shed
46. clutch The number of eggs laid; egg 64. Dicamptodontidae Giant salamanders
production and laying. (1. The females of
65. dichromatism Color differences between individuals
some species clutch several times a
of the same species.
year. 2. The average clutch size of adult
green iguanas is 50-70 eggs.) 66. dimorphism Any of the various differences between
individuals of the same species; like
47. cohousing Housing males and females together.
color and size. Often sex-related
48. Concealing when an animal hides itself against a differences.
Coloration background of the same color. There are
67. Disguise This is like concealing coloration except
many well-known examples of this type
that the animals blend in with their
of camouflage (e.g., polar bears, artic
surroundings by their shape and/or
fox, snowshoe hare). Concealing
texture rather than color.
coloration camouflage is one of the
reasons why many animals living in the 68. Disruptive The stripes, spots or other patterns on
Artic are white, while many animals Coloration some animals are used to make it hard
living in forests are brown (e.g., deers). for other animals to see the outline of
their bodies. A herd of zebras crowded
49. Conspecifics Members of the same species.
together might look like one large mass
50. cranial Often referring to the top of the head to a lion rather several zebras. This
(cranial crest). makes it hard for the lion to single out a
weak zebra and come up with a good
51. Crepuscular Active at dawn and dusk
plan of attack.
52. crepuscular Becomes active at dusk, dawn, and
69. Diurnal Active during the day.
twilight.
70. diurnal Active during the day.
53. Crest A decorative ridge of skin or spikes that
may occur on the neck, back and/or tail. 71. Dorsal Towards the back (spinal area).
54. cryptic coloration Patterning or color to camouflage or 72. dorsal Pertains to the back or upper surface.
conceal.
73. dorsolateral Pertains to the upper sides.
55. Cryptobranchidae hellbenders
74. dorsolateral A glandular ridge on the upper sides of
56. Cryptodira lower their necks and pull the heads ridge/fold certain frogs.
straight back into the shells
75. Dorsoventral Relating to the dorsal and lateral sides
57. cycle; cycling The recurring reproductive phase, of the body.
triggered by hormonal changes
76. dorsum The upper surface.
triggered by environmental cues. May
occur on an annual basis, or a more or 77. Dysecdysis Difficult shedding skin
less frequent basis. 78. Dystocia Abnormal or difficult labor or birth
58. Debride The removal of dead or injured tissue 79. Ecdysis Process of shedding the skin.
59. Dehydration Reduction of water in body tissues and 80. ecology Scientific study of the interations of
blood; can be fatal. Dehydration can be organisms and their environment.
due to insufficient water intake, a too-
81. Ectoparasite Parasites living outside (or on) the body
arid an environment, or as a result of
thermal burns. 82. Ectotherm Having to regulate internal body
temperature by seeking out different
60. Desmognathus Dusky salamanders
external heat sources. See the related
61. detritivore Animals that are detritus feeders, eating term, poikilotherm.
dead and decaying leaves and other
83. Ectothermic "Cold-blooded" - body temperature
decomposing plant and animal parts, as
varies according to ambient external
well as organic fecal matter.
temperatures.
62. Dewlap The flap or fold of skin on lizards along
84. ectothermic An animal that cannot regulate its own
the throat from chin to chest; some may
body temperature, rather it's regulated
be flared outward during territorial and
by the environment, so they often bask
aggression displays
for heat, burrow, and hibernate.
63. dewlap The flap of skin on the throat of some
85. endemic Indigenous to a specific region or area.
lizards; like iguanas and anoles.
86. Endoparasite Parasites living inside the body 103. Gryinophylus spring salamanders
87. Ensatina Ensatina 104. Heliotherm(c) Basks in the heat of the sun (or other
overhead bright heat source). Commonly
88. Estivation Torpor brought on by extended periods of
found in arboreal and semiarboreal
drought or heat.
iguanids and agamids, chameleonids, etc.
89. estivation Similar to hibernation, some herptiles will Aquatic and semiaquatic turtles also bask.
bury themselves and remain dormant when Snakes use a combination of heliothermic
the climate is too dry and/or hot for and thigmothermic strategies.
comfort. It is also spelled aestivation.
105. Hemidactylium four-toed salamander
90. estradiol The estrogen hormon primarily responsible
106. Hemipenes The bi-lobed male reproductive organs in
for stimulating yolk synthesis in females.
most reptiles, kept inverted in the tail until
91. Eurycea brook salamanders needed.
92. Femoral Enlarged pores found on the inside of the 107. Hepatic Relating to the liver.
Pores thighs of males and females. Males have
108. herbivore Plant eater, vegitarian.
larger pores than females. The plugs in the
male iguana's pores grow during breeding 109. Herbivorous Plant eaters. Includes fructivores (fruit
season and are used to scent mark their eaters) and folivores (leaf eaters)
territory. Females do some scent marking
110. Herp A reptile or amphibian. "Herpers" is the
but not as extensively as males. Chemicals
term used to refer to people who are
in the waxy plugs can be used to tell if the
interested in or who keep herps.
iguana who left the mark was male or
Herpetoculture refers to the keeping and
female
breeding of herps.
93. fertilization When a sperm from a male penetrates the
111. Herpetology The study of reptiles and amphibians. From
ova of a female. In oviparous species,
the Greek word herpeton, "things that creep
fertilization occurs when the sperm meet the
and crawl on their bellies". The herpesvirus
ova as they pass through the oviduct, a
is based on the same Greek root, named
passage which also layers the outside of the
for the viruses creeping along the nerves in
egg with calcium to form a shell.
the body.
94. follicle 1. A small bodily cavity or sac; any small
112. herpetology Scientific Study of reptiles and amphibians.
spherical group of cells containing a cavity.
pl. follicles. 2. small egg-containing sacks 113. herptile, herp, Reptiles and amphibians together.
found in the female ovary. In fertile human herpetofauna
females, one follicle will become dominant 114. Het Short for hetero, the standard color/pattern
and release a mature egg (ovulate) during for which an animal carries dominant
every cycle. In oviparous reptile species, genes.
several mature eggs will be produced,
115. hibernate To pass a cold season in sleep or
depending on the species and the individual.
seclusion.
95. Follicles The enlarging ova in ovaries, prior to
116. hybrid A crossbred animal. The offspring of two
fertilization.
different species.
96. follicular The development of the yolk in the eggs.
117. Hydromantes web-toed salamanders
vitellogenesis
118. Hyla tree frogs, genus
97. Fossorial Burrows under ground or beneath
vegetation 119. Hylidae Tree frogs, family
98. fossorial It burrows or digs. 120. Insectivore Eats only insects.
99. genus A grouping by kind or class. Several united 121. intergrade Animals that seem to blend characteristics
species makes a genus. of subspecies.
100. Glottis The opening at the back of the tongue 122. intromission The act of copulation, during which the
leading into the trachea (wind pipe) male transfers his sperm into the female. .
101. Gravid Pregnant. Used when referring to viviparous, 123. Invertebrate Animals having external skeletons or shells,
oviparous and ovoviviparous animals. or none (e.g., insects, snails, slugs, worms,
crabs).
102. gravid A female bearing eggs or embryos.
124. invertebrate An animal without a backbone. 144. Mullerian natural phenomenon in which two or more
mimicry unprofitable (often, distasteful) species, that
125. in vitro Occurring, or made to occur, outside of a
may or may not be closely related and share
living organism or natural setting (i.e, "test
one or more common predators, have come
tube babies" are when the egg and sperm
to mimic each other's honest warning
have been combined and fertilization
signals, to their mutual benefit, since
occurs in the lab and then implanted into
predators can learn to avoid all of them with
the mother or surrogate).
fewer experiences.
126. in vivo Occurring, or made to occur, within a
145. Nasolabial enhances chemoreception
living organism or natural setting.
groove
127. Jacobson's An organ for detecting odor located in the
146. Necrotic Dead skin or tissue, often the result of burns
organ roof of the mouth. The tongue delivers the
or infection.
odor. The nostrils connect to the lung or
lungs. 147. neotenic Reaching sexual maturity while still in larval
form; some salamanders.
128. keel A ridge on a scale.
148. Nephrotoxic Chemically damaging to the kidneys.
129. larva the early form or first stage of an insect
during its development. 149. nest The burrow or pallet dug by the female in
which to deposit her eggs.
130. Lateral Refers to the side, as in "lateral folds".
150. neurotoxin A poison that affects the nervous system.
131. lateral Pertaining to the side.
151. Nocturnal Active at night.
132. Lethargy Drowsiness or prolonged lapses into
unconsciousness 152. nocturnal Active at night.
133. Mandible Lower jaw. 153. Nuchal Refers to the neck area. An iguana has a
nuchal (from the back of the head to the
134. Maxilla Upper jaw
shoulders) and a dorsal crest (from the end
135. Medial Toward the midline (center) of the body. of the nuchal area to the base of the tail).
(Median)
154. omnivore Animals who eat both meat and vegetables.
136. melanism Blackness, the opposite of albinism.
155. Omnivorous Eat both plant and animal matter.
137. metamorphosis The change from a larval state to an adult
156. oocyte An egg before maturation (oogenesis).
state.
157. oogenesis The formation and maturation of an egg.
138. Microhylidae narrow-mouthed toads
158. orbital pertaining to the eye bones
139. middorsal Pertaining to the middle of the back.
159. Osteomalacia Softening of the bones.
140. midventral Pertaining to the middle of the belly.
160. ova Eggs. sing. ovum The mature ova are 10-100
141. MIHF Male iguana human female. Since this
times the size of inactive (pre-vitellogenic)
cumbersom combination is used with
ova. An ovum technically becomes an egg
increasing frequency when discussing
once the albumin and shell are added as
issues relating to male iguana aggression,
they pass through the oviduct into to
this acronym will simplify the typing, if not
coelomic cavity.
the biochemistry.
161. ovarian ducts var. oviduct. Secrete albumin as well as
142. Mimicry Animals that use mimicry are imposters.
shelling the eggs.
They mimic the characteristics of
unappetizing animals. A monarch butterfly 162. ovary The female gonad, producing eggs and
is toxic and unappetizing to birds. Viceroy female hormones. The ovary varies in
butterflies safeguard themselves from birds appearance and size depending on the stage
who prey upon them by looking a lot like of oogenesis. An inactive ovary may appear
monarch butterflies. as a small smear of caviar-looking
substance, while an active ovary looks like a
143. Morph A color or pattern (e.g., albino is a morph
mass of white spheres (the developing eggs)
of the standard form).
held together by transparent membranes
laced with blood vessels.
163. Oviparous Reproduces by laying eggs.
164. oviparous Egg-laying. (Anoles are oviparous.) 177. plastron The lower shell of a turtle.
165. oviposit To lay or discharge eggs, especially as 178. Plethodon Woodland salamanders
applied to organisms with a specialized
179. Plethodontidae Lungless salamanders
egg-laying structure, such as an ovipositor.
180. pleurodira folding their necks sideways along the
166. Oviposition Laying eggs. Adult female crickets have an
body under the shells' marginals
ovipositor, a stick-like projection off their
tail end which is used to deposit the eggs. 181. Poikilotherm An animal whose temperature varies with
that of its environment, excluding birds
167. oviposition The laying of eggs.
and mammals. ("Cold-blooded")
168. ovipositor The hollow tube through which some
182. poikilothermal Term used for variable temperature
insects (such as crickets) and chelicerata,
cold-blooded animals.
lay their eggs. In bees and wasps, this has
been modified into the stinger. 183. posterior Pertaining to the rear.

169. Ovoviviparous Reproduces by forming eggs which are 184. posterioventral Pertaining to the rear portion of the
retained, in a shell-less form, inside the lower surface.
mother until they are ready to hatch. They 185. prehensile tail Capable of grasping or wrapping with
either hatch inside the body, appearing the tail.
outside as if through viviparous birth, or the
186. Procoelous concave at the anterior end of the
egg sacs are expelled from the mother's
centrum and usually convex at the
body and the young break through the sac
posterior end of the centrum
membrane to free themselves.
187. progesterone An estrogen antagonist, this steroid
170. ovoviviparous An animal who holds the eggs inside its
hormone produced in the ovary. In
body until they hatch and living young are
uterine mammals, it prepares the uterine
delivered. However, the embryo is
lining for the implantation of a fertilized
sustained by the contents of the egg and
egg.
not by any connection to the animal that
holds it. 188. prostaglandins Named for the prostrate gland where
these hormone-like chemicals were first
171. Parathyroid Glandular structures secreting
discovered, prostaglandins play a varied
parathormone, used in calcium metabolism.
role in both males and females.
172. Parietal Eye A photosensory organ connected to the
189. Proteidae mudpuppies and water dogs
pineal body, active in triggering hormone
production (including reproduction) and 190. Pseudacris Chorus frogs
thermoregulation; sensitive to changes in 191. Pseudotriton red and mud salamanders
light and dark, it does not form images,
having only a rudimentary retina and lens; 192. race Subspecies.
visible as an opalescent gray spot on the 193. Ranidae true frogs
top of some lizard's heads; also referred to
194. Renal Relating to the kidneys.
as "pineal eye" or "third eye".
195. resorbtion Some female animals can resorb fully
173. Parthenogenic Females who reproduce without males,
developed eggs. What causes resorbtion
producing primarily or only female
in female reptiles is not known, so there
offspring (daughters). Common in several
is no known way to trigger nor prevent it.
lizard species
196. Rhyacotritonidae torrent and seep salamanders
174. Photoperiod A day/night cycle of light/dark. Depending
on the context in which this term is used, it 197. Rostral Relating to the rostrum the nose and
may refers to just the daylight period (see area surrounding the nostrils and front of
also photoperiod). the top lip.

175. Pipping The breaking open of an egg shell by the 198. rostral (horns) Horns around the nose area.
hatchling inside. Most hatchlings are 199. Salamandridae Newts
equipped with an "egg tooth," a sharp
protruberance on their mouth, used to 200. Saxicolous Rock and crevice dweller.
pierce and cut a tear in the shell. 201. Scaphiopodidae Spadefoots family
176. Plastron The bottom park of a turtle or tortoise shell.
202. Scaphiopus or Spadefoots genus 217. subspecies Ranking below species, used for
Spea organisms related at the species level but
who show distinct differences, other than
203. Scotophase The dark period during of 24 hour period of
color/pattern, from other species or
light and dark (see also photoperiod).
subspecies in the genus.
204. scute A horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or
218. supratympanal Positioned above the tympanum (external
scale, as on the shell of a turtle or the
eardrum).
underside of a snake. Also called scutum.
219. tarsal Spur A spur found on the back of the rear feet
205. semi-aquatic Able to live on both land and water; some
on male Veiled chameleons for use in
turtles and frogs.
breeding.
206. Setae singular: seta. The tiny hair-like projections
220. taxonomy The science of classifying plants and
on some the toe pads of some gecko
animals.
species that enable them to climb smooth
vertical surface, even walk across ceilings. 221. Temperature A range of temperature needed to enable
Each seta is tipped with hundreds of Gradient a reptile to regulate its internal (core)
spatulate projections. There are theories body temperature.
about how exactly they work.
222. terrapin Fresh-water tortoise.
207. shell The eggs of oviparous reptile are shelled as
223. terrarium The cage or container for keeping reptiles
calcification they pass through the oviducts on their way
and amphibians.
to the coelomic cavity, which occurs several
days prior to laying. The amount of 224. Terrestrial Lives on land.
calcification (thickness, rigidity) varies from 225. terrestrial Lives on the land.
species to species. The amount of shelling
226. Tetrapod These are vertebrate (having a backbone
can be adversely affected due to metabolic
or spinal column) animals that have four
bone disease caused by pre-exisiting
limbs. including amphibians, reptiles,
dietary or environmental deficiencies, or
birds, and mammals. The word tetrapod is
gestational/gravidity-induced MBD when
derived from the Greek term "tetrapode",
gravid females have not received
which is equivalent to the Latin term
supplemental calcium to prepare them for
"quadruped".
the increased calcium demands on their
bodies to produce eggs and shells. 227. Thermoregulate In reptiles, their ability to change their
body temperature by moving from warm
208. Sirenidae Sirens
to cool places.
209. slug An infertile egg.
228. thermoregulate To regulate body temperature. Most
210. Snout Tail (stl; STL) The measurement of an animal reptiles cannot produce their own body
Length from nose to the end tip of the tail. heat and must rely on external or
211. Snout Vent (svl; SVL) The measurement of an animal environmental heat sources. They control
Length from nose to the vent. their core body temperatures by moving
in and out of areas with varying
212. sp. Subspecies. (UK: ssp.)
temperatures and humidity levels
213. species Plural: ranking below a genus or subgenus,
229. Thigmotherm(ic) Absorbs heat by laying/resting against
related organisms capable of interbreeding.
warm objects in the environment.
Singular: one such type of organism.
Commonly found in snakes, Lacertidae,
214. spp. Species (plural) Scincidae, and Teiidae. Snakes use a
combination of heliothermic and
215. Spur The remnant of the hind limb, visible as a
thigmothermic strategies.
small claw on either side of the vent, on
boas and pythons. On some torotises, an 230. Torpor Sluggishness, inactive, lethargic.
enlarged scale projecting out from the legs,
231. toxin A poisonous substance.
generally the inside of the hind legs.
232. tympanum The external eardrum.
216. Subcutaneous Just beneath the skin (as in SQ, subq,
subcutaneous fluids). 233. Typhlomolge Texas and Blanco Blind salamanders
234. Urates The non_fecal part of the excreta.
235. venom A toxin produced by an animal.
236. Vent The exterior opening of the cloaca; anus.
237. vent Anus, the opening from the cloaca to the outside.
238. Ventral Towards the belly.
239. ventral Pertaining to the underside, the lower surface.
240. Vertebrate Animals having internal skeletons (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish).
241. vertebrate Typically describes an animal with a backbone or spinal column and includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and
amphibians.
242. Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, a primary division of the phylum Chordata that includes the fishes,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, all of which are characterized by a segmented spinal column and a
distinct well-differentiated head. There are currently about 58,000 species of chordates. Vertebrates are the largest
group of chordates, and make up about 5% of all described animal species; the rest are invertebrates, which lack
backbones.
243. viquarium An enclosure or container for keeping reptiles and amphibians.
244. vitellogenesis The development of the egg yolk in the follicles, started when estrogen stimulates the liver to start converting lipids
from the body's fat stores, creating vitellogenin. During this time, the liver is enlarged and yellowish-looking.
245. vitellogenic The development and deposition of yolk.
activity
246. vitellogenin A protein, synthesized in the liver after estogen stimulation, that is the precursor to several yolk proteins. The
maturing follicles absorb vitellogenin from the bloodstream.
247. Viviparous Bears live young rather than laying eggs.
248. viviparous Live-bearing animal whose young are sustained by some connection to its mother.
249. Xanthic Increased amounts of, or excessive, yellow, coloring.
250. yolk The deposit of yolk into the ova.
deposition
251. yolk The development of yolk, initially started in the liver, complete in the ova.
synthesis
252. Zoonosis A disease (bacteria, fungus or worm) transmitted from one animal to another, including to and from humans