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)