Exotic Vocab Reptiles

a person who studies reptiles and amphibians

lives in trees

lives on the ground

an animal that regulates its body temperature by utilizing warm and cool zones in the environment (cold-blooded)

an animal that is able to regulate its body temperature internally (warm blooded)

the act of lying in a warm area in order to absorb heat

moving between warm and cool areas in order to regulate body temperature

active at night

active in the day

eats vegetation or plant material

eats meat

eats both meat and vegetation

eats insects

an animal that hunts for other animals

an animal hunted by other animals for food

a toxic compound secreted by some animals for the purpose of killing or defense

a modified saliva gland in the maxilla that produces venom

a serum that may neutralize the toxic qualities of venom

a poisonous compound that destroys the nervous system

a poisonous compound that attacks blood cells

hollow or grooved teeth found in venomous reptiles; during a bite, venom is injected thru them

when a venomous reptile bites and no venom is releases

the opening of the airway, it is moveable to allow breathing during the eating process

areas on the lips of boas and pythons that are heat sensitive

a tail that is capable of grasping

a foul smelling substance produced by scent glands in the base of the tail

an animal that eats whenever food is available

found int he roof of a reptile's mouth that aids in the identification of prey. the tongue will flick out and draw in scent molecules from the air (slang: Jacobson's organ)

an enlarged scale. seen commonly in turtles and crocodilians, or the underside of snakes

transparent skin that has fused over a snakes eye

a small appendage located on either side of the vent found in boas and pythons

a pregnant female reptile

to keep eggs in conditions favorable to development and hatching

the process where the outer layer of a reptiles skin peels away

a covering over some reptiles eyes

adjusting habits so that a species may improve its condition in relationship to its environment

colors or shapes used by plants and animals to blend into its surroundings and prevent being seen

plates of bone in a reptile's tail that will allow the tail to break off

similar to the abdominal cavity of mammals; birds and reptiles do not have a diaphragm to separate the thorax and abdomen

where the female's eggs are produced

a reptile rectum

located directly on the top of some reptiles head that is connected via the parietal nerve to the pineal body of the brain. it is a photoreceptor used in hormone production and thermoregulatory behavior (slang: the "third eye")

births live yound

lays eggs

internally incubates eggs, then when the eggs hatch the mother births live young

dead skin that has not sloughed off during the shedding process. happens due to improper husbandry or illness/injury

the ability for the reptile to return itself to the normal upright position

the body's internal temperature that surrounds the internal organs. reptiles maintain their core temperature for 2 hours after being removed from their habitat

the top shell of a tortoise, turtle or terrapin

the bottom shell of a tortoise, turtle or terrapin

the organ that functions as a lung in reptiles that do not have lungs

the membrane that covers the ear cavity

when the sex of an animal can be determined simply by sight and/or observation in some cases (sexually dimorphic)

skin that absorbs into the body any medication or anesthetics that are placed onto it

4 modes of respiration used in amphibians

breathing thru gills

breathing done thru air gulping

oxygen absorption thru the skin

oxygen absorption thru the blood