GETTING AROUND AS A HERP

What are the 2 primary roles of the axial skeleton?

GETTING AROUND AS A HERP

What are the 2 primary roles of the axial skeleton?

1. Support Body2. Propel the Body

THESE ROLES ARE BALANCED AGAINST ONEANOTHER

How Lizards and Slanders Move?

1. Transfer weight to 3 limbs while other changes position2. Flexion of pine3. No Falling4. Problems for breathing

a. Muscles allowing flexion used for breathingb. Transfer air between lungs

5. When running have 2 legs off ground

HOW DO TURTLES DIFFER?

LOCOMOTION BY TURTLES ISESSENTUALLY A CONTROLLED SERIES OF FALLS

Fig 10-8

WHAT ABOUT ANURANS?

Fig 1-2

On Land: We think mostly of hopping/jumping, but use other gaitsIn Water: Swimming is mostly a hind-limb approach

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land

Fig 10-11

Undulatory Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land

Fig 10-12

Side-Pushing Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land

Fig 10-13

Concertina Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land

Fig 10-14

Sidewinding Locomotion

Snakes and Other Legless Lizards use 6 Modes On Land

Rectilinear Locomotion: Use of Ribs and Belly Scales to slowly crawl forward. Common among large constrictors. Can often be seen when rat snakes transverse boards. (Similar to a Roman Galley).

Saltation: Reports of young vipers exploding forward 1.5 times their body length during strikes.

Swimming Locomotion

Undulatory for Snakes, Salamanders, Lizards

Flying in Water by Sea Turtles (Series of figure 8s)

Four Limb Paddling of Turtles

Hind Legs of Frogs

10-17, 10-19

Do Any Modern Herps Fly?

Do Any Modern Herps Fly?

Powered Flight: Birds, PterosaursCapable of Climbing

Falling: Drop Strait Down

Parachuting: Steep Descent of more than 45°

Gliding: Shallow Descent of less than 45°

Fossorial Locomotion--Digging

Limbless animals use head and concertina motion

Limbed animals use forelimbs for “swimming”or scratch-digging.

COMMUNICATION AMONG AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

VISUAL

TACTILE

CHEMICAL

AUDIO

What are the major benefits and problems for each of these?

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Benefits: Cheap to Produce

Costs: Short RangeRequires Making Yourself Obvious

Examples: Extensive use in lizards (Work by Diana Hews)Open mouth displays of TuataraCourtship displays of newts (Includes Chemical)Frogs change colors and flash patches at each otherParts of crocodile displays

TACTILE COMMUNICATION

Benefits: Cheap to ProduceRelatively Safe (If You Pay Attention)

Costs: Very Short RangeCan be Very DiscreteOften Final Portion of Courting

Examples: Courtship of SnakesCourtship displays of salamanders (Includes Chemical)Tail Straddling by Salamanders

CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION

Benefits: Moderate Cost to Produce

Costs: Short or Long RangeMay Make You Obvious to Chemically ReceptivePredators

Examples: Extensive Use in SalamandersExtensive Use by SnakesUse in Lizards Poorly StudiedSome Use by FrogsLittle Known in AlligatorsProbably Common Among Turtles

AUDIO COMMUNICATION

Benefits: Very Long Range

Costs: Expensive to ProduceRequires Making Yourself Obvious To Predators

Examples: Frog Calls Alligator BellowingHissing by Squamates