Problem
A. Be able to recognize the main characteristics of non-avian reptiles described in class. What does it mean when we say that reptiles are ectotherms? What may be the main function of reptilian scales? What is an amniotic egg?
B. How many species of living sea turtles are there? What is their conservation status?
C. What is the carapace and plastron and how does it affect breathing and swimming? Is the carapace covered with scales? How do sea turtles propel themselves?
D. How do sea turtles deal with the excess of salt in their diet?
E. Describe reproduction in sea turtles.
F. Where are seas snakes found? Why have they not crossed into the Atlantic Ocean?
G. How do sea snakes swim? How do their tails, lungs and salt glands correlate with the environment in which they live? How do the position of the nostrils, the size of the ventral scales, the reproductive strategy and the amount of time that they typically spend in water vary between sea kraits and true sea snakes?
H. What do we mean when we say that the marine iguana is endemic to the Galapagos Islands? How are the teeth and snouts of marine iguanas correlated with their diet? How do these animals swim?
I. Why are birds included within the class Reptilia?
J. What are feathers? What was, most likely, the original function of feathers? What other functions do feathers have? How can marine birds waterproof their feathers?
K. List some of the anatomical modifications in birds that improve flight.
L. What do we mean when we say that birds are endotherms?