Behold the Archosauria (archon [ruling] + sauros [lizard])

[ ------------------------------------------- Amniota ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ]

[ --------------------------------------- Reptilia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ]
[ -------- Archosauria---- ] [ ------------ Lepidosauria ------------------------------------------------------------------ ]
[ ---------------- Squamata ------------------------------------------------- ]
[ ------------------ Scleroglossa ---------------------------- ]
[ -------Varanoidea ----- ]
Mammalia Testudines Crocodylia Aves Rhynchocephalia Iguania Gekkota Scincomorpha Varanidae Serpentes

cloacal scent
glands

shell made of bony plates

ribs + (most of) backbone
fused to carapace
scapula within ribcage
antorbital fenestrae well developed male hemipenes

caudal autotomy, simple male hemipenes

β keratin in skin

amniotic egg (extra embryonic membranes: amnion, chorion, allantois)

Synapomorphy: antorbital fenestrae (holes in the skull before the eyes)

 Crocodylia: Remnants of greatness (relics: only 23 species left today)
• at least 240-230 my old, earliest forms may have been terrestrial
• survived the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction (65 mya) and radiated into terrestrial + marine/
freshwater ecosystems
• experienced their own “mass extinction” towards the end of the Eocene (~ 38 mya)
• pushed back towards the tropics in advance of cooling temperatures leading up to the
Pleistocene Ice Age

Who are they?

only 1 species has marine about half the species have some
tolerance (American marine tolerance (e.g., the Indo-
alligator) Pacific croc: salt glands on tongue)
gharial alligators, caimans crocodiles
(1 species) (8 species) (14 species)

This tree only shows the relationships among the extant (living) crocodylians.
There are at least 47 extinct species in this group, many of which were marine, so
it makes it difficult to determine what the ancestral habitat was like
 What makes them special? Generalized reptilian head:

external nares (nostrils)

at tip of snout

internal nares open into roof of mouth

trachea or windpipe
(opening at back of
mouth, except in snakes)

In crocodylians however:
Snout is elongated
External nares (nostrils) are moved from the tip of the snout to the dorsal
surface of the snout. They are also elevated on the snout.
Internal nares (choana) open at the back of the mouth

The bones of the skull are modified to form a complete secondary palate (bones
are enlarged and fused to make the roof of the mouth completely bony)

Internal nares
A large fleshy flap from the tongue and secondary palate forms a valve at the back
of the throat. When closed, this valve completely seals the mouth from the trachea
and esophagus in the throat. Advantage: crocodilians can breathe with their mouth
closed, mouth open under water (as long as the nostrils are above water) and/or
mouth full of food!

Generalized crocodylian head:

passage from external to internal nostrils is surrounded by bone, including the secondary
palate - forms a channel for air flow from nostrils to back of mouth

nostril moved to the dorsal

surface of snout and elevated
greatly elongated snout
internal nares moved back, open behind palatal valve

restructuring of skull and upper jaw bones

to form a complete secondary palate
trachea

fleshy folds at back of palate and tongue

meet to form a big valve (palatal valve) at back of mouth
 Efficient ambush predators
• Excellent vision (tapetum lucidum behind retina + large pupil gives them
visual acuity comparable to an owl), hearing, sense of smell
• stealth and surprise
• launch via powerful tail
• jaws have a weak opening force (small muscle) but extremely powerful
closing (crushing bite)

grab-gulp or grab-drown-twirl

Social animals (haven’t seen this for awhile), crocodylians generally hang out
together in basking areas. At least three species (e.g., the Nile crocodile) may
hunt cooperatively
Extremely complex behavioural repertoires using vocal (very sophisticated),
visual, chemical, and tactile cues

Courting like crocodylians: internal fertilization, oviparous, polygamous

courtship is prolonged, beginning with

male-male struggles for territories and dominance (head ramming),
followed by male-female roaring and other vocalizations, head and nose rubbing
(chemosensory, tactile), bubbling

Gentle parents
All crocodylians have extensive care of the eggs and babies
In general it is only the female who provides the care (exceptions include the
Nile and mugger crocs which display biparental care).
Females build extensive nests of vegetation, dig holes in the sand/mud (prolonged
exposure below 27oC and above 34oC kills embryos)
Babies: vocalize while still in the eggs, heard by other nestlings, mother vocalizes
back, mother helps the babies hatch, precocial young can feed themselves. Babies
stay together in crèches, in some species (such as the American alligator) the
young remain with mother for several years

Status: 2 lower risk (conservation dependent) + 3 vulnerable + 1 endangered + 6

critically endangered

Great Web Sites

www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csl.html
for vocalizations: www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/croccomm.html
 Behold the birds …. somewhere in here …
[ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dinosauria --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ]
[ ----------------------------------------------------- Theropoda --------------------------------------------------- ]

e.g., Triceratops

e.g., Velociraptor
e.g., e.g., Microraptor
Ornithischia Sauropodomorpha Tyrannosaurus Oviraptor Avialae Dromaeosaurus

e.g., Allosaurus

e.g., Diplodocus,
Titanosaurus (big
herbivores)

feathers originated at least here (are

probably older): feathers evolved long
before modern birds [Aves] appeared

You do NOT have to know these trees. I only include them to give you a sense of avian origins.
You do need to know synapomorphies “hallux” [Avialae] and “no teeth on maxilla” [Aves].
[ ------------- Avialae ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ]
[ ------------- Aves ------------------------------------- ]
ostriches, ducks, chickens,
V
Archaeopteryx V V V V emus turkeys the rest

no teeth on maxilla

opposable big toe (hallux)

 Feathers !!!
Feathers are about 90% ß-keratin, which is stronger, more flexible, and lighter than
the keratin in scales, beak and claws

Feathers are much older than modern birds – they originated somewhere in the
middle of dinosaur evolution

Incredible variation in feather modifications: structure (size, shape, length),

colour

Keeping feathers clean:

preen gland: found at the base of the tail, produces waxy esters, which protect
feathers from, water, dirt, UV radiation, parasites

Feathers are estimated to serve > 20 different functions in birds as a whole

• thermal insulation (downy feathers, trap air)

• physical protection (thin skin)
• tactile sensation (e.g., detect air currents)
• visual (e.g., signaling to conspecifics, camouflage)
• flight
• water repellency
• sound production (courtship)
• toxicity !! (only a few species, defensive)

Fully formed feathers are thus not made of living cells, so ……. there is no great
trauma when these feathers are periodically shed during molting
 Avian Sex
• all have internal fertilization, but all are oviparous (egg-laying)
• females usually only have one functional ovary (the left one)

The following depicts the sequence of egg formation from ovulation at point 1 to
egg laying at point 7:

2. Infundibulum: Chalazae (thick

protein coils) added. Fertilization
occurs (cleavage begins)
1. Ovary: Ovulation (egg
contains yolk + blastodisc)

kidney
3. Magnum:
albumen added

4. Isthmus: Shell
membranes added
vestigial right
oviduct
5. Uterus: water and salts added,
large followed by the calcareous outer
intestine shell
6. Egg moves into cloaca,
development stops

7. Egg is laid, development begins again

once incubation starts
anus
• egg production is costly to the female (e.g., wood ducks use 88% of fat stores, red-
billed queleas use protein from their major flight muscles), calcium is crucial
 Only basal birds have a penis (e.g., ostriches, ducks).

In other birds, sperm is transferred via the “cloacal kiss”

Courtship: Birds have a profusion, abundance, plentitude, and cornucopia of

courtship displays: both vocal and visual (behaviours, colours)

courtship dances courtship feeding and grooming

 Mating Systems

a very small # of promiscuous species (e.g., hummingbirds)

a small # of polygynous species: leks or harem-holders

(e.g., grouse, prairie chickens) (e.g. red wing blackbirds, eastern meadowlarks)

a small # of polyandrous species

(e.g., jacanas, red phalaropes)
Most avian species are classified as monogamous (about 90%); however, recent
studies using genetic fingerprinting have shown that about 90% of the so-called
“monogamous” species show some degree of extra pair copulation.

All species build nests, although this varies from simply clearing a spot in the sand
or on a rock ledge to the complex nests of weaverbirds
All birds provide extensive care of the eggs and babies (Female only, biparental,
male only**). Babies vocalize while still in the eggs (remember crocs)

Precocial chicks: (30-40% of egg is yolk) chicks can feed themselves but still
need guarding (like crocs), downy, eyes open, run about (e.g., ducks, geese, chickens,
swans, ostriches)

Altricial chicks:(15-27% of egg yolk) need feeding and extensive care (usually,
but not always) hatch naked, blind, and immobile (e.g., songbirds, raptors, gulls, crows,
pigeons, etc.).