The Diversity of Life

1. The Diversity of Life

2. AMPHIBIANS • EVOLEVED FROM LOBE-FINNED FISHES • 3 ORDERS • URODELA (with tail) - Salamanders • ANURA (without tails) - Frogs/toads • APODA (without feet) – look like snakes – (Rare – not many examples)

3. Amphibian Characteristics • Most undergo metamorphosis (going from aquatic larval stage to terrestrial adult stage) • No scales • Combination of gills, lungs, skin breathing • Most have external fertilization • Eggs without shell

4. CLASS REPTILIA • Dominated the earth from 300 million to 65 million years ago (the Mesozoic era) • Dinosaur extinction: Asteroid-impact hypothesis • Major characteristics: Amniotic Egg, watertight skin, exothermic

5. Reptile Orders • Chelonia: Turtles • Crocodilia: Crocodiles and alligators • Squamata: Lizards and snakes

6. Rattlesnake

7. Reptile Interesting Facts • Autotomy: ability of some snakes to detach tail, which continues to move, in order to distract predators • Pythons and Boa Constrictors have small nubs that are believed to be vestigial legs • Snakes can swallow objects larger than their head because they have a flexible skull

8. CLASS AVESCHARACTERISTICS • FEATHERS • WINGS • RIGID FLIGHT SKELETON • AIR SACS • ENDOTHERMIC (104-106F) • BEAK / NO TEETH • OVIPARITY (Lay amniotic eggs)

9. ARCHAEOPTERYX

10. Wing Development • Tree Hypothesis: Flight began with organisms jumping from trees and gliding • Net Hypothesis: Wings initially served as nets for capturing insects • Heat hypothesis: feathers developed as an adaptation in heat regulation

11. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM • CROP – enlarged part of esophagus, moistens food • GIZZARD – Second part of the stomach which crushes food with help of stones the bird intentionally swallows.

12. ORNITHOLOGISTS Biologists who study birds

13. Interesting Bird Facts • The largest bird is the Ostrich (9 feet tall and weigh over 300 pounds) • If an average man had a metabolism comparable to that of a hummingbird he would have to eat 285 pounds of hamburger every day to maintain his weight. Hummingbirds can fly backwards

14. The bones of a pigeon weigh less than its feathers. In 1998, USA hens produced 6.657 billion dozen. The average chicken lays approximately 260 eggs per year 10,000 species of birds divided into 29 orders

15. New York City has the largest population of peregrine falcons in the world. The nest of a bald eagle can be 12 feet deep,10 feet wide and weigh over a ton. Although domestic turkeys can not fly, wild ones can fly up to 55 miles an hour but only for short distances

16. CLASS MAMMALIA 4,400 DIFFERENT SPECIES 20 ORDERS

17. Characteristics • Endothermic • Mammary glands • 4 chambered heart • Hair • Specialized teeth

18. Endothermy • Regulate own body temperature • In humans = 98.6F = 37C • Opposite of exothermic • Endo= inside / exo = outside • In past called warm-blooded / cold-blooded

19. Specialized Teeth • Incisors: Chisel-like, used for cutting • Canines: Pointed, used to puncture/tear • Molars: Flat, used for crushing

21. Four Chambered Heart • More efficient • SEPTUM: Wall that separates left and right side of heart

22. Mammalian Orders • Monotremata: Lay eggs, only 3 living examples which includes Platypus and Echidna Anteater • Marsupials: live birth but young not fully developed; Opossum, Kangaroo • Rodentia: Largest mammal order (40% of all mammal species) • Chiroptera: Bats

23. Platypus

24. Kangaroo

25. Class Rodentia • Mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, hamsters, beaver, porcupines, gerbils, etc…

26. CHIROPTERA Over 1,000 different species of bats

27. Carnivora: Dogs, cats, lions, tigers, bears, etc… Primates: 235 living species, which includes Homo sapien Artiodactyla: Mammals with hooves Cetacea and Sirenia: live in ocean; whales, dolphins, and manatees Proboscidea: Asian and African Elephants

28. Carnivora

29. Cetacea and Sirenia

30. Interesting Facts • Cows, sheep, goats, giraffes and others have a four chambered stomach with a RUMEN which contains symbiotic bacteria • Bats are the only mammals that can fly! The smallest bat weighs less than a penny! • The Amur tiger is the largest cat in the world. From head to tail, it can grow up to thirteen feet long

31. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth. Cats can see up to six times better than humans in dim light A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away!

32. There are over 40 species of kangaroos. The smaller kangaroos are called wallabies. A male kangaroo is called a boomer, a female kangaroo a flyer, and a baby kangaroo a joey. The name kangaroo came from the Aborigines through a mistake. An early European explorer asked an Aborigine what these strange hopping animals were, and the Aborigine replied kangaroo, meaning "I don't understand." The explorer thought he was naming the animal.

33. Primates • Large brain • Color Vision • Communication • Opposable thumb • Infant Care • Social organization

34. Hominids • Australopithecus • Homo habilis • Homo erectus • Homo sapien

35. Genus Australopithecus • First human ancestor to live on the ground and walk on two legs • As evidenced by the Laetoli footprints • Ape-like jaw • Small brain • Short stature • Found only in South and East Africa

36. The Australopithecines • A. anamesis 4 MYA • A. afarensis 3.2 MYA “Lucy” • A. africanus 2.5 MYA • A. robustus 2 MYA • A. boisei 2 MYA

37. Homo habilis “The Tool Man” • Approx. 2.5 MYA • Brain ½ size of modern human • First to make and use stone tools and weapons

38. Homo erectus “The Upright Man” • Direct ancestor of modern humans • Widespread in Africa and Asia by 1 MYA • Evidence of use of shelter and fire

39. Homo sapiens “The Wise Man” • Most likely evolved from H. erectus as early as 400,000 years ago • Greatly increased brain size • Consisted of 2 groups • Neanderthal • Cro-Magnon/modern H. sapiens

40. Neanderthals • Found in Neander Valley in Germany • Fossils found throughout Europe, Middle East, and Asia from 150,000-30,000 years ago • Large bodies and brains • Evidenced painting, religion, complex social structure • “Cave man”

41. Cro Magnons and Fully Modern Humans • First early modern H. sapiens appear about 130,000 years ago • Thinner bones, smaller jaws, higher skull with little or no brow ridge, and larger brains • Cave art shows complex religion and culture • Lived alongside Neanderthal for several thousand years, but eventually out-competed them