Study Questions Chapter 4 - Reptile Taxonomy

1. What trait distinguishes turtles from all other tetrapods. Sketch skulls of at least three different tetrapods illustrating the differences.

2. Is leglessness a useful diagnostic character that can be used in reconstructing squamate phylogeny? Illustrate your point with a crude phylogeny of squamates.
3. What three traits distinguish lizards from serpentes?
4. List three families of lizards AND three families of snakes along with a representative genus and species of each that is found in California. BONUS points: List two families of turtles along with genus and species that are found in California.
5. Are the possession of pits and venomation useful as diagnostic characters with regards to reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among serpentes? List the families that possess each trait.