Marine Reptiles. General Characteristics Vertebrates originally adapted for land that have reinvaded...
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Transcript of Marine Reptiles. General Characteristics Vertebrates originally adapted for land that have reinvaded...
Marine Reptiles
Marine ReptilesGeneral Characteristics
• Vertebrates originally adapted for land that have reinvaded the water
• Specialized eggs
• Poikilotherms and ectotherms
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Bodies enclosed by armor-like shell
• There are 7 – 8 species of sea turtles
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Diet varies with species1) Benthic invertebrates – Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, flatback
(also jellyfish)
2) Sponges – Hawksbill
3) Jellyfish – Leatherback
4) Sea grasses – Green, black (also jellyfish)
5) Diverse – Olive ridley (crustaceans, jellyfish, algae)
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Reproduction• Return to land to lay eggs
• Females lay eggs at night (up to 160 eggs)
• Gender of hatchlings depends on incubation temperature
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Reproduction
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Distribution
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Distribution
Black Flat Back
Hawksbill Kemp’s Ridley
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• Distribution
Leatherback Loggerhead
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• All species are threatened or endangered
Marine ReptilesA. Sea Turtles
• All species are threatened or endangered
Marine ReptilesB. Sea Snakes
• 55 species
• Laterally flattened with a paddle-like tail
• Immense Lungs
• Ovoviviparous
• Carnivores
• Venomous
Marine ReptilesC. Marine Iguanas
• One species – Galápagos Islands
• Spends most of its time basking in sun
• Feed on algae
• Eliminate salt through salt glands
• Good swimmers
• Territorial
Marine ReptilesD. Saltwater Crocodiles
• Inhabits mangroves and swamps
• Found in E. Indian, W. Pacific and Australia
• Largest crocodile species
• Diverse diet
• Aggressive
Marine ReptilesD. Saltwater Crocodiles
Marine ReptilesD. Saltwater Crocodiles
• Other Crocodiles inhabit fresh or brackish water • In tropics of Africa, Asia, Americas and Australia
• Alligators – broader snouts, only upper teeth seen when jaws closed
• Only in US and China
American AlligatorCrocodile
Seabirds
SeabirdsGeneral Characteristics:
• Spend significant portion of life at sea• Have webbed feet for swimming• Endotherms and homeotherms• Adaptations include
• Feathers
• Hollow bones
• Nest on land
• Salt glands to excrete salt
SeabirdsA. Diversity:
1. Body form and Lifestyle:• Penguins
• Albatross
• Pelicans
• Cormorants
• Frigate birds
• Gulls
• Shorebirds
penguin
penguin
SeabirdsA. Diversity:
1. Body form and Lifestyle:• Penguins
• Albatross
• Pelicans
• Cormorants
• Frigate birds
• Gulls
• Shorebirds
SeabirdsA. Diversity:
2. Diet• Small zooplankton – Prions
• Fishes – Penguins
• Squids – Petrels
• Benthic invertebrates – Razorbill
• Other birds – Petrels
• Resource partitioning is common (minimizes competition)