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Dinosaurs
Appeared and evolved into a great variety of forms during the Mesozoic era.
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Asteroid-impact hypothesis
Suggest that a huge asteroid hit the earth, sending so much dust into the atmosphere that the amount of sunlight reaching the earths surface was greatly reduced.
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Amniotic Eggs
which encase the embryo in a secure,self-contained aquatic environment.
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Amnion
Thin membrane enclosing the fluid in which the embryo floats.
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Yolk sac
encloses the yolk, a fat rich food supply for the developing embryo.
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Allantois
stores the nitrogenous wastes produced by the embryo.
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Chorion
surrounds all the other membranes and helps protect the developing embryo.
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Albumen
Where the protein and water needed by the embryo are contained.
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Keratin
is the same protein that forms your fingernails and hair.
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Septum
wall of tissue that divides a single ventricle.
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Alveoli
the linging of the lungs may be folded into numerous small sacs
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Jacobson's organ
is a specialized sense organ located in the roof of the mouth of reptiles.
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Thermoregulation
the control of the body temperature.
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Ectotherm
warms its body by absorbing heat from its surroundings.
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Endotherm
such as mammals and birds, have a rapid metabolism which generates heat needed to warm the body.
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Oviparity
the femals reproductive tract encloses each egg in a tough protective shell.
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Ovoviviparity
Retaining the eggs within the female's body untill there is no hazards.
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Viviparity
a shell does not form around the egg, and the young are retained within the femals body untill they are mature enough to be born.
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Placenta
Nutrients and oxygen are transferred from the mother to embryo through a structure called the placenta.
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Carapace
is the top, or dorsal, part of the shell.
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Plastron
is the lower, or ventral, portion of the shell.
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Autotomy
if threatened by a predator, some lizards have the ability to detatch their tail.
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Constrictors
wrap their bodies around prey.
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Elapid
Snakes inject poisons through two small, fixd fangs in the front of there mouths.
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Vipers
inject venom through large, mobile fangs in the front of the mouth.
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