The Evolution Of Tetra Pods

The Evolution Of Tetra Pods
It is often debated which species share common ancestors, in particular, how closely related
amphibians, mammals and osteichthyes are. The evolution of tetra pods, or four legged animals,
from aquatic animals such as fish can be traced back 365 million years ago to the Devonian, 408–
360, mya, and evidence shows that this evolution was divergent in nature (Freeman, S. 2011; Myer,
A and Zardoya, R. 2004). Divergent evolution, also sometimes termed adaptive radiation, occurs
over many geological times and gives rise to a number of new species that all occupy different
habitats and show characteristics that assist in survival and reproduction under their natural selection
pressures (Kinear, J.F. 2000). Variations in these essential survival ... Show more content on
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2011). Different organisms can evolve in similar ways even if they are not similar by descent from a
common ancestor and this is known as homoplasy (Hawks, J. 2005). Classification of animals is an
important field of biology, as new knowledge about genetics, anatomy and evolutionary
relationships often leads to new thoughts on how different groups of organisms are related. In the
biological systems of classification, all organisms are divided and classed into increasingly specific
groups, starting with the kingdom, and finally being classed down to their genus and species
(Huxley, L; Watter, M. 2005). Animals are either vertebrates or invertebrates, and this determines
what phyla they belong to. All vertebrates, for example are all classed under the chordate phylum,
meaning that they all evolved from an ancestor that had a notochord along the back (dorsal) side.
Mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds are all chordates. Studies on vertebrates have
revealed that progressive evolutionary adaptations, such as improved respiration, efficient
reproduction and paired muscular appendages enabled the vertebrates to survive in a wider range of
habitats and on land. The development of the earliest vertebrates and the transition from
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Classification Construct : The Second Lineage Of...
The Synapsid clade (classification construct), are known as the second lineage of terrestrial
vertebrates (amniote tetrapods), that originated at the end of the Paleozoic era (Pough, Janis, and
Heiser 448). According to Pough, Janis, and Heiser, "Synapsids include mammals and their extinct
pre–decessors, commonly called "mammal–like reptiles", (can also be referred to as "non–
mammalian")". The key distinction in distinguishing synapsids from other amniotes is their synapsid
skull; the synapsid skull is a skull with the presence of a lower temporal (synapsid) fenestra, plus a
few other skull features (Fig. 1) (Pough, Janis, and Heiser 448).
Fig. 1– Diagram of the Synapsid Skull. The diagram depicts a generalized image of the Synapsid
skull. The key in differentiating the Synapsid skull from other skulls is that temporal fenestra, which
is located behind the orbit. Dilkes DW & RR Reisz (1996), First record of a basal syanapsid
("mammal–like reptile") in Gondwana. Proc. Royal. Soc. Lond. B 263: 1165–1170. Aerosaurus,
Elliotsmithia, SYNAPSIDA, Varanops, Varanopseidae. <
http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/synapsida/synapsida.html>
When defining Synapsid, this term is often misused to only refer to the only extinct non–mammalian
forms, when in actuality this group includes all the amniotes that descended from a common
ancestor who had a synapsid type of temporal fenestration (Pough, Janis and Heiser, 448). A term
when defining the Synapsid lineage is "mammal–like reptile" this term

Comparing Three Different Classes of Vertebrates
Introduction Chordates are an animal phylum that is classified by four main characteristics that they
all obtain over the course of their lifespans. The first characteristic is the pharyngeal slits, which can
be found in non–vertebrates, allow substances to enter and exit (Speer 2000). The dorsal nerve cord
serves as a connection between the brain and other muscles (Speer 2000). The notochord can be
found below the nerve cord and acts as a support system (Speer 2000). Finally, the post–anal tail
comes out from the body from the opening of the anus (Speer 2000). One major characteristic that
distinguishes Vertebrates from invertebrates is the backbone that is present in their bodies.
Vertebrates also have two pair of appendages and have bilateral symmetry (Adojaan 2005). Along
with a fully developed organ system, Vertebrates have a central and peripheral nervous system and a
closed circulatory system (Adojaan 2005). This lab report compares Amphibia, Reptilia, and
Mammalia in order to outline the similarities and differences between the many vertebrate classes.
By comparing and contrasting theses classes, a further understanding and knowledge of Vertebrates
can be gained. Part A Class Amphibia, more commonly known as amphibians, have several features
that set them apart as a unique Class. Organisms found within the Class Amphibia are cold–blooded
and have very smooth skin (Prakash 2014). Amphibians can be found on both land and water, which
is necessary in order to keep

Laevis In Research
1. X. Laevis in Research
The African Clawed Frog (X. laevis) is among the most widely used animal models to study
anatomy, physiology and vertebrate development. From the 1940s to 1970s, X. laevis was used in
pregnancy testing. The current standardized test for toxicity measurement of environmental
pollutants; the FETAX Assay,1 was developed using X. laevis.
Recently, X. laevis has begun to be in used research investigating central nervous system (CNS)
regeneration. X. laevis has also been used in ground–breaking biomedical research in developmental
biology, cancer and cellular research.1
2. X. Laevis as an Animal Model
Several characteristics make X. laevis an ideal animal model. Firstly, their ability to produce large
quantities of easily manipulable eggs year round,1 coupled with a long lifespan of 15–20 years1
provides scientists with a stable source of biological ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Primary research article
Quantitative proteomics after spinal cord injury in a regenerative and a non–regenerative stage in the
frog Xenopus laevis.
4.1 Purpose of Study
This study examined and compared the types and expression levels of proteins produced between
regenerative stage (R–stage) and non–regenerative stage (NR–stage) X. laevis with spinal cord
injury (SCI). Proteomic profiles are developed to gain essential knowledge on mechanisms
controlling spinal cord regeneration and highlight reasons for its failure in mammals.
4.2 Target Groups
8 samples from R–stage tadpoles (growth stages 49–51) and NR–stage froglets (growth stage 66)
were examined (Table 1).
Table 1: Breakdown of target groups examined in study.4
R–stage tadpoles (8 samples) NR–stage froglets (8 samples)
Spinal cord transection Sham operation Un–operated Control Spinal cord transection Sham
operation Un–operated Control
4.3 Methodology

4.3.1 Growth of X. laevis
X. laevis embryos were grown to obtain R–stage tadpoles and NR–stage froglets. Un–operated
controls were chosen from these animals.
4.3.2

Transitional Mammalian Middle Ear: Article Analysis
The article "Transitional mammalian middle ear from a new Cretaceous Jehol eutriconodont" by Jin
Meng, Yuanqing Wang, and Chuankui Li is essentially about how the jawbone became an ear. In
ancient fossils it had been discovered that where the jawbone meets the skull, the four small bones
that make up the middle ear: the malleus, incus, stapes, and ectotympanic, were also found there. As
these bones moved from the mandible to form the middle ear the "Meckle's cartilage" stabilized the
"post– dentary bones" during their separation. Once the removal was complete the cartilage then
ossified, becoming bone and remaining near the base of the mandible leaving the middle ear
independent from the jaw. This evolutionary transition took years to become present, and is still
highly criticized. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This specific animal had only the malleus and ectotympanic bones emerging, and they were still
mainly attached to the Meckle's cartilage causing them to serve a dual purpose of hearing and
feeding. Now, to bridge the gap between the Morganucodon, and existing mammals: a 120 million
year old fossil– the Liaoconodon. This rat–sized mammal was apart of a small group that had a
completely solidified Meckle's cartilage. This is important because during the embryotic maturation
period all living mammals have Meckle's cartilage, but as they developed it is no longer present!
The mature Liaoconodon skeleton filled the evolutionary gap between mammals that had only a
malleolus and ectotympanic submerging and mammals that have fully developed auditory

Permian Time Frame
The Permian Time frame was the last time of the Paleozoic Time. Enduring from 299 million to 251
million years back, it took after the Carboniferous Time frame and went before the Triassic Time
frame. By the early Permian, the two–extraordinary mainland's of the Paleozoic, Gondwana and
Euramerica, had crashed to frame the supercontinent Pangaea. Pangaea was formed like a thickened
letter "C." The best bend of the "C" comprised of landmasses that would later wind up present–day
Europe and Asia.
North and South America framed the bended back of the "C" with Africa inside the bend. India,
Australia and Antarctica made up the low bend. Inside the "C" was the Tethys Sea, and the greater
part of whatever is left of Earth was the Panthalassic Sea. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The Permian (alongside the Paleozoic) finished with the Permian– Triassic annihilation occasion,
the biggest mass eradication in Earth's history, in which almost 90% of marine species and 70% of
earthbound species kicked the bucket out. It would bring great into the Triassic for life to recoup
from this catastrophe. Recuperation from the Permian– Triassic termination occasion was extended;
ashore, biological communities took 30 million years to recover.
The Permian saw the broadening of the early amniotes into the genealogical gatherings of the warm
blooded creatures, turtles, lepidosaurs, and archosaurs. The world at the time was overwhelmed by
two mainlands known as Pangaea and Siberia, encompassed by a worldwide sea called Panthalassa.
The Carboniferous rainforest crumple left behind huge districts of leave inside the mainland

Alaska 's State Turtle Is The Largest Of Four Species Of...
Have you ever heard of a Western–painted Turtle? Well if you are from Colorado you should know
what they are! Western–painted turtles are Colorado's state turtle. How did that come about? Well in
2007 Jay Baichis 4th grade class came together because they wanted these colorful turtles to be our
state turtles. Why? Because these beautiful turtles are found by many lakes, ponds, and water bays
around Colorado. They have bright beautiful colors just like Colorado. The Western Painted Turtle
became our state turtle a year later after the 4th graders went through all the legal ways and the
process to make it happen. The 4th graders had gone to governor Ritter on March 18, 2008 and told
him why the turtles should be our state turtle, and Ritter had signed the HB 08–1017. Now let's get
into more detail about our state reptile.
The Western Painted Turtle is the largest of four species of turtles. They can grow up to about 8
inches and the males are generally smaller than the females. Their shells are nice and smooth and
are about 250mm long. They are called painted turtles because their lower shell is a bright red with
yellow and olive green colored designs spread through their shells. They have yellow lines on each
side of their neck that are about the same size that go all the way to their head. They are cold
blooded animals so they cannot control their body temperature. They have to go under the mud or
sand to keep themselves warm. Western Painted Turtles are aquatic reptiles so

Advantages Of Birds
Birds are warm–blooded vertebrate creatures that have wings, quills, a snout, no teeth a skeleton in
which numerous bones are combined or are missing, and a to a great degree proficient, one–way
breathing framework (Padian &Chiappe, 1998). Flying winged animals have solid, empty bones and
effective flight muscles. Most winged animals can fly. Birds have an extremely solid heart and an
effective method for breathing – these are vital for flying creatures to fly (Serono & Rao, 1992).
Winged animals additionally utilize a great deal of vitality while flying and need to eat a ton of
nourishment to control their flight. The capacity to fly has grown autonomously commonly all
through the historical backdrop of the Earth (Padian &Chiappe, 1998). Birds ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
and Puerta, P.F., 1997. New evidence concerning avian origins from the Late Cretaceous of
Patagonia. Nature, 387(6631), pp.390–392. Ostrom, J.H., 1976. Archaeopteryx and the origin of
birds. Biological Journal of the linnean Society, 8(2), pp.91–182.
Padian, K. and Chiappe, L.M., 1998. The origin and early evolution of birds. Biological Reviews of
the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 73(01), pp.1–42.
Paul, G.S., 2002. Dinosaurs of the air: the evolution and loss of flight in dinosaurs and birds. JHU
Press.
Qiang, J., Currie, P.J., Norell, M.A. and Shu–An, J., 1998. Two feathered dinosaurs from
northeastern China. Nature, 393(6687), pp.753–761.
Sereno, P.C. and Rao, C., 1992. Early evolution of avian flight and perching: new evidence from the
Lower Cretaceous of China. Science, 255(5046), p.845. Wellnhofer, P., 1994. New data on the origin
and early evolution of birds. Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences. Série 2. Sciences de la
terre et des planètes, 319(3), pp.299–308.
Zhou, Z., 2004. The origin and early evolution of birds: discoveries, disputes, and perspectives from
fossil evidence. Naturwissenschaften, 91(10),

Lesson 3 Essay Questions
Lesson 3 Essay Questions: 1. Compare and contrast directional selection and disruptive selection
and provide an example of each. Both directional and disruptive selection is a type of natural
selection. Natural selection is the differential survival and/or reproduction of organisms as a
function of their physical attributes. (phenotype) This results in evolution over many generations.
Each mode of selection alters the mean or variance of a phenotypic trait in a population or species.
These distributions can be represented in bell curves. Both selection processes can be influenced by
human interaction. Directional Selection occurs when an extreme phenotype at one end of a
population distribution is favored over all other ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Jaws are believed to evolved from the first pair of gill arches. The presence of jaws permits a
predatory lifestyle. Early bony fishes or lobed finned fishes had lungs. Amphibians were the first
group to have jointed appendages and to invade land. Amphibian means living both on land and in
water. Besides the jointed limbs they have other features that are not seen in the fishes. Eyelids that
keep the eye moist, sound producing larynx, and ears adapted to pick up sound waves. Amphibians
have a great variety of reproductive strategies. This variety as well as the adaptations noted above
made them successful colonizers of the land environment. Reptile are the next step in the
evolutionary tree of chordates. The most outstanding adaptation of reptiles is that they have a means
of reproduction suitable to a land existence, Fertilization is internal and the female lays leathery ,
flexible shelled eggs. The amniotic egg made development on land possible and eliminated the need
for a water environment during development. Birds are considered feathered reptiles. They share a
common ancestor with the crocodile. Nearly every anatomical feature of a bird can be related to its
ability to fly. Birds lay a hard shelled amniotic egg rather than the leathery egg of other reptiles.
Mammals are amniotes as well and share a common ancestor with the reptiles. However they
represent a

Essay about chordates and vertebrates lab
Chordates and Vertebrates Lab
Introduction/Background:
In this lab students are learning all about chordates and vertebrates and will be viewing examples of
them as well. The examples to be viewed in the lab are Tunicates, Lancelets, Lampreys, Rays, a
Dogfish shark, a Perch, Catfish, Eels, Toads, Frogs, Lizards, Snakes, Roadrunner (foot), Barn owl
(wing), Cotton tail rabbit , and an Opossum. The different types of chordates/vertebrates discussed
in this lab are the urochordata, cephalochordate, craniates, gnathostomes, chondrichthyes,
actinopterygii, tetrapods, amphibian, amniote, reptilian and aves, and mammals. Students are going
to learn how to differentiate the different organisms and the characteristics that make them unique!
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although both species are cold blooded, they are very different in appearance and physical makeup.
Reptiles are covered in distinctive scales, and some may even have a rough texture. Amphibians, on
the other hand, typically have smooth moist skin. Reptiles also have more diverse body types than
amphibians. They may or may not have limbs, and can range in size from very small to substantially
larger and heavier than humans. Most adult amphibians have four limbs, and while their size varies,
very few grow larger than a man's arm. The role of water is also an important distinguishing
characteristic. Though many reptiles live in the vicinity of water, this is not essential for them to stay
alive and some lizards and snakes are ideally suited to dry areas. By contrast, many amphibians
must remain moist in order to breathe, although they do have lungs, they also take in oxygen
through their skin. This thin skin means that they lost moisture easily as well, and some will even
die if their skin dries completely. Life cycles are different in that when reptile eggs hatch, the young
look like miniature adults. An amphibian initially emerges from an egg in the form of an aquatic
larva, like a tadpole that breathes through gills until they mature and develop lungs so they may
survive without being completely submerged.
3. Aves
a. Roadrunner
b. Barn Owl
4. Mammalia
a. Cottontail rabbit
b. Opossum

c. Which of

Neural Crest Cells Essay
Neural crest cells are transient vertebral cell types, which form at the boundary between the neural
plate and surface ectoderm. They are multipotent and able to migrate and differentiate into
numerous derivatives resulting in them being referred to as the 'fourth germ layer'. It is thought that
the evolution of vertebrates is due to large–scale genome duplications which occurred early in the
vertebrate lineage. Research suggests that there were two rounds of genome duplication during early
vertebrate evolution. However, there is an alternative research model which suggests that in stem
vertebrates there was a single round of duplication, followed by lineage–specific segmental
duplications in cyclostomes and jawed vertebrates. Despite ... Show more content on
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There is also evidence to suggest that the fate of neural crest cells depends upon their migratory path
in the trunk which is dictated by somites. Cells which migrate early move ventrally and pass through
the anterior half sclerotome, form the sensory ganglia. Cells which are more dorsal within the
anterior sclerotome form the sensory neurons and glia of the dorsal root ganglia, partly due to
signals which come from the neural tube. Alternatively, the neural crest cells which migrate late
travel laterally between the somite and the ectoderm, forming melanocytes in amniotes. It is thought
that the increased complexity in vertebrate neuroanatomy may stem from interactions between
neural crest cells and other cell types. An example of this is the essential role of neural crest cells in
the expansion of the head and formation of a 'true neck'. Neural crest cells are thought to be crucial
in multiple stages of cranial mesoderm development and secrete signals which depress myogenesis,
consequently allowing the formation of cranial myofibres. Research has suggested that these distinct
myogenic regulatory sub–networks arose in early vertebrates. The formation of a 'true neck' is a
result of the pectoral girdle losing its attachment to the skull, and allowed tetrapods to colonise land
as they could now move their head independent of limbs. Despite

Essay on The Evolution of Reptiles
There are four main groups of reptiles, known as Crocodilians, Squamates, Tuataras, and Turtles.
Crocodilians consists of large reptiles which includes alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans.
Squamates are lizards, snakes, and worm–lizards. A worm–lizard is a subterranean burrowing reptile
that resembles an earthworm, a legless lizard. Tuataras are a group of reptiles that are lizard–like in
appearance but are different from squamates because their skull isn't jointed. Turtles are the most
ancient reptiles alive today. They have changed very little since they first showed up 220 million
years ago. The first turtle appeared 220 million years ago.(Laura Klappenbach)
Though it is not a reptile, Gephyrostegus bohemicus is where the ... Show more content on
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Amphibians skin is moist and they do not consist of scales. The skin of an amphibian is also
permeable. Permeable means that gases can pass through their skin. A reptiles' scales provide them
with a protective layer of skin that is tough and dry. The scales help to minimize the loss of body
moisture, the reptilian scales consists of a protein called keratin. The scale structure of a reptile are
not individual like those of a fish, but are a continuous sheet of epidermal tissue. Hard–shelled eggs
provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop and enables reptiles to lay their
eggs in dry environments. On the other hand, amphibians must lay their eggs in or near water. The
reptilian skeleton differs from other vertebrates in many ways. For example, reptiles have many
bones in their lower jaw to enable them a greater bite mobility, but mammals only have one bone in
their lower jaw called the mandible. Mammals ears consist of three bones(the malleus, incus, and
stapes) while reptiles have just one bone(stapes). Reptiles also have only one occipital condyle(a
protrusion on the skull that forms a joint that enables movement of the head) mammals on the other
hand consist of two occipital condyles (Laura Klappenbach 2014).
Scientists say reptiles evolved from amphibians 340 million years ago. The first reptile was an insect
eater. Reptiles were more adaptable and able to

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Nmps
Introduction Every year, thousands of individuals worldwide are affected by Spinal Cord Injury
(SCI), a devastating neurological disorder that, unfortunately, remains without an effective therapy,
since the current approved approaches are essentially palliative1. Several types of new therapeutic
strategies, including cellular, molecular and combinatorial approaches, have been studied in the
recent years. Cell therapies, aiming particularly at replacing lost neurons and recovering the
neuronal circuitry, are typically seen as holding a great potential for changing the paradigm towards
more curative interventions. Numerous approaches are being developed, each one having its own
advantages and disadvantages as it has been reviewed elsewhere1, ... Show more content on
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This would represent a major technical advancement and gives a new hope for the development of
the desired effective spinal cord regeneration therapies. Notwithstanding, it is still necessary to
refine the methods for differentiation of NMPs into spinal cord motor neurons and to guarantee that
the specific neuronal subtypes are generated with precision. In turn, this refinement will require a
more complete understanding of NMPs and their differentiation, and also of the molecular
mechanisms involved in the DV patterning of the spinal

Pakicetus Research Paper
Pakicetus – The Pakicetus was mainly a land animal, who is thought to have been a carnivore. It had
fangs that would greatly benefit it in hunting, killing and eating its source of food. It had a long
skull, which is one of its closest resemblance to modern day whales along with an ear bone almost
exclusive to modern whales. While it mainly hunted its food on land, it would occasionally eat fish
from nearby sources of water. The Pakicetus lived along the Tethys Sea, it back feet where adapted
to be able to propel itself in water, while its front feet contrasted as its front feet are better suited for
moving on land.
 Ambulocetus – Similar to the whale the Ambulocetus was a large animal about 11 feet long. It
struggled to walk on land due to its legs being too weak to support its very heavy body, weighing in
at about 400 pounds. In the body of the Ambulocetus its legs had yet to evolve into flippers like
modern whales therefore, the whale was able to exit a body of water and walk on land. It is likely
that this early ancestor had to pull itself forward rather than walking like its previous ancestor the
Pakicetus.
 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was about 10 feet long and weighed about 1000 pounds, making it smaller yet heavier than its
previous ancestor the Ambulocetus. Similar to its previous ancestor the Rodhocetus was able to drag
its body along the ground for short periods of time, however it mainly resided in water. Its nose had
evolved to a snout which aided in the hunting of squids and fish, the primary sources of energy in its

Australian Snubfin Dolphin Research Paper
The Australian snubfin dolphin, scientifically known as Orcaella heinsohni, found off the northern
coast of Australia. The snubfin dolphin are characterized by their broad rounded head that is
extremely mobile and usually has a visible neck crease (Beasley et al. 2005). The mouth line is
straight and there is no signs of a beak. Their teeth are peg–like and there are less than 20 on each
side of the jaws (Martin 1990). It is the reverse situation to most other dolphins, the u–shaped
blowhole of Orcaella is open to the front (Leatherwood & Reeves 1983).
A distinctive feature of the Australian Snubfin Dolphins is the lack of a dorsal groove between the
snout and the dorsal fin (Beasley et al. 2005). The dorsal fin of the Australian Snubfin Dolphin ...
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Unlike the Irrawaddy dolphins, Australian snubfins can be found traveling alone. Usually the
average school of Australian snubfins consists of five dolphins. These groups of Australian snubfins
are found along Australia's north coast from the Kimberley National Marine Park in Western
Australia to the Gladstone region of Queensland and can be spotted in the waters of Papua New
Guinea.
The all animals are classified under the Kingdom Animalia, also known as Metazoa. This kingdom
does not contain prokaryotes. All the members of this kingdom are multicellular, eukaryotes. They
are heterotrophs, they depend on other organisms directly or indirectly for food. Most of the animals
ingest food and digest in the internal cavity. Most of the organisms are motile which means they can
move independently and spontaneously.
Classification is all about organising living things into groups. The members of any group all
possess a shared characteristic – it is this characteristic or feature that defines the group. Looking at
the animal kingdom; we can clearly see that it has been split into two clear groups, Invertebrates
(animals without a backbone) and Vertebrates (animals with a backbone). These groups are divided
into smaller

Analysis Of What Makes Us Human
While reading through the article of "What makes us Human," I learned about things I never knew
about. How many people have actually read about the things that go on in our brain? I learned about
three different genes and their roles in our life. While one helps us develop our brain from before we
are even born, with the development of it all, to encoding our RNA. HRA1, FOXP2 and ASPM have
played a major role throughout our whole lives without us even knowing.
Evidence shows that chimpanzees are our closest relatives. They nearly have the same brain as ours,
correspondingly the same organization and complexity. The similarity between our DNA is roughly
between 98.5– 99.4 percent identical. Similarity makes it seem to us like the relatedness are among
us humans and the chimpanzees. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of the ways used to identify if this was true would be to check the DNA in a fossil. Speeding up
the molecular clock would not work because everything has to be checked through the DNA and
fossil statements. But what if we could speed up the process? Would we have been here when there
was dinosaurs around...would we have encountered all the different species that have died off. Due
to HRA1, which is a Cajal–Retzius cell that includes Protein Reelin. Reelin is a large secreted
extracellular matrix glycoprotein that regulates the process of neuronal migration and positioning in
the

Green Sea Turtles
Turtles have puzzled evolutionary biologist immensely. Their morphology isn't similar to any other
living species, specifically their shell is quite perplexing as the shell makeup is unique to other
armored tetrapods, like rhinos and armadillos. In fact, the dorsal part of the shell is transformed into
ribs and vertebrae and their shoulder blades have inside–out topology against the rip cage. This is
unique in comparison to other armored tetrapods because they tend to have independent vertebrae
and rib cage to their armor and have regular topology of the shoulder blades. In addition, turtles lack
a temporal fenestra which classes them in the anapsid group. This is abnormal, because generally
turtles are labeled as reptiles and generally reptiles have two fenestra which classes them into the
diapsid group. These characteristics are part of the reason as to why a phylogenetic tree is
complicated to create. This primary paper ultimately sets out to determine where the turtle,
specifically the extant species the green sea turtle and the Chinese ... Show more content on
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The fragments of the turtle's genes in the database needed to be assembled independently of one
another; thus, HiSeq 2000 was used to shotgun sequence and the sequences were assembled with
SOAPdenovo assembler. The resulting genomic size of each turtle species was ~ 2.2 Gb with N50
lengths of scaffolds smaller than 3.3 Mb. Based on the analysis of the genetic database study, and
looking at orthologous sets of 1,113 single–copy coding genes, there was and immense amount of
evidence that turtles are likely to be a sister clade of crocodiles and birds. This likely means that the
secondary fenestra reptiles have was lost in turtles have the two sister groups diverged from a
common ancestor 257.4 million years ago. (likely the

Red Eared Slider Research Paper
The Red Eared Slider is one of the most common Mid–South East Coast. They can be found in
marshes, ponds, and slow moving bodies of water. Other species of turtles include: Eastern Box
Turtle, Common Snapping Turtles, Eastern Painted Turtle, Red Bellied, Bog Turtle, Spotted Turtle,
Musk Turtle, Eastern Mud Turtle, Northern Diamondback, and Wood Turtle. The Red Eared Slider
is named for the distinctive red streak on each side of its face and is primarily aquatic and will
emerge from the water for basking. Even though Red Eared Sliders don't have ears, they feel by
vibration. In fact, they carry part of the skeleton on their back, which makes them on of the most
interesting reptile. According to Monmouth County Parks, "As with other reptiles, ... Show more
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To warm up, they bask in the sun. In winter, all reptiles in our area must hibernate to survive the
cold." This explains the uncommon sighting of most turtles this time of the season. But as soon as
the weather warms up, the turtles start to come out to bask for warmth. When we were on our class
trip to Prospect Park in Brooklyn, we encountered a dead turtle. The lifeless shell was flipped over
and cracked. It almost appeared as it was frozen. As discussed as a class, what we were observing
was in fact a turtle trying to bask in the sun on a warm spring day and the weather turn for the worst
the following day, leaving the turtle to suffer. Another example of a turtle encounter was last
summer in central park. On a warm sunny day, I went on a boat ride in the central park pond. On the
nearby rocks, there were numerous turtles basking in the sun and cooled off by diving into the water.
With my fascination of turtles, I made the person rowing with me row closer to get an up close look.
Some people may wonder how these turtles get here? Most of the time, they are brought into an area
as pets and then released by owners. This causes stress on the animal and its

Breed Morphs Marketing Plan
Company: My company will be located in a Pennsylvania warehouse. Warehouse space is cheaper
in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey, more space equates to more animals, which ultimately leads to
more money. My company will specialize in breeding morph turtles and lizards. Morph means that
the reptiles can have various colors and patterns. Some of them can even be albino, which will
increase their worth because of how rare they are. This company is unique because I will be
breeding turtles and lizards in morph form. People do not normally breed morphs in big businesses
because they do not have the space. Morphs sell out quick, as one can almost count on them being
sold in two months or less after birth, for a hefty price.
Market opportunity: I will build my company through instagram by taking pictures daily of all the
animals eating and close ups of their colors. There will be a website that you can go on to see what
we have in stock and what will soon be bred. People on instagram already make a lot of money from
selling ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Feeder food is crickets, hornworms, roaches, and other insects. I go to the store almost daily and
spend money on crickets for my bearded dragons. Crickets are pure profit. They charge me around 5
dollars when I ask for 15 large crickets, and they never even give me the right number or size of
crickets. I would house these and hornworms which only need a dark place to grow and can sell for
30 for 70 dollars. The pet store i was going to always ran out of crickets, which is bad. I would have
a program where you could get weekly or monthly combined insects all for a lower cost than what
the stores would sell. They cost nothing to maintain, which would be a profit. The breeding on the
other hand takes more work but an average quality morph could go upwards to 1,000 dollars. Each
female capable of laying up to 40 or more eggs. The price only goes up as it grows

Essay Compare And Contrast Directional Selection And...
Lesson 3 Essay Questions: 1– Compare and contrast directional selection and disruptive selection,
and provide an example of each. Directional selection occurs when one extreme of a trait is favored
and the distribution curve shifts in that direction. An example of this is the human struggle with
malaria. The mosquito Anopheles transmits the disease. A new drug for the disease and a insecticide
for the mosquito was created. But over the years they became resistant to it and multiplied, shifting
the distribution curve toward the resistant type of parasite. Disruptive selection is where any two
extremes of a trait are favored over any intermediate phenotype. For example, British land snails are
found in low vegetation areas. The thrushes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
So, if the plant entices an animal, say a bumblebee, to come to it by offering it some sweet nectar,
then plant can attach some of its pollen to the back of animal and it will carry it to a new

The Evolution of Reptiles
The evolution of reptiles, beginning with the direct common ancestor with mammals and birds, the
amniotes, to the major orders, families and species of today is well known due to the fairly complete
fossil record. The first fossilized amniotes discovered were dated to the early Pennsylvanian sub–
period of the Carboniferous period, about 323 to 299 million years ago, in the stumps of the oldest
extant vascular plant division, the lycopods, in Nova Scotia. This unique mode of fossilization
proves the species was truly terrestrial (Carroll 1982). Based on both the fossils and the commonly
shared derived features, scientists know a great amount about the characteristics of the amniotes that
separate them from fish and amphibians. Amniotes were able to successfully reproduce without the
necessity of standing water, due to the amniotic egg with extra embryonic membranes. They also
had an improved morphological structure that allowed for enhanced locomotion and feeding,
specifically the system of receptors sensitive to tissue swelling located in both the axial and
appendicular muscles, as well as the increased size and greater efficiency of the jaw due to the
diversification of the angles of the jaw muscles (Carroll 1982). With these beneficial traits, amniotes
dominated the terrestrial landscape. From the amniotes, there are eight early–reptilian groups
recognized: pelycosaurs, mesosaurs, pareiasaurs, millerosaurs, Protorothyridae, procoloponids,
captorhinids, and the most

The Impact Of Human Impact On Sea Turtles
Human Impact on Sea Turtles
Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups. They are classified as amniotes. They have existed a
long time ago, which means they have seen the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of
humanity. Scientists think that turtles have existed for around 157 million years (mosaic 29).
Approximately, sea turtles were 65 million years ago (Dobbs 1). This family has survived the
passage of time and is threatened by the contamination that humans have created in the ocean. The
six sea turtles that occur on the coasts of America are in fact threatened. Sea turtles are very
important for the ecosystem, but humans, directly and indirectly, endanger this family. If humans do
not stop their destructive habits, we can lose the influence of sea turtles on seafarers. Sea turtles play
an important role in the ecology of the ocean, and without turtles, we can see an ecological collapse
in the oceans. Sea turtles are one of the few animals in the sea that eat sea grass (Godfrey). Sea
turtles act as grazing animals that cut short grass and help maintain the health of the family of
seaweed (Godfrey). In recent decades, there has been a decline in the sea grass family. This decrease
may be related to the decrease in the number of sea turtles (Godfrey). Sea grass is important because
it is a fertile ground for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans (Godfrey). The beaches and
sand dunes are known for not having many nutrients. When the sea turtles reach

Lineage-Based Perspective
With there being more than 50,000 species of vertebrates alone it is essential for all biology majors
to have a working knowledge of the tree of life. The two perspectives for teaching zoology are the
Linnean taxonomical and the Phylogenetic clade–based perspective. The Linnean taxonomical
perspective is a rank–based hierarchy while the phylogenetic clade–based perspective groups
species by focusing a common ancestor and its descendants. In regards to teaching zoology there is
more value in using the phylogenetic clade–based perspective rather than the Linnean perspective
because it allows students to organize the details of biodiversity with a more rational system.
Phylogenetic taxonomy focuses on common ancestry and derived functional ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
For example; Coleoptera contains over three hundred thousand species while Primate contains
roughly four hundred species including the human (Ballen, Cissy J., and Harry W. Greene).
This lack of criteria is what causes the exclusion of taxonomic acknowledgment of major
evolutionary innovations while inaccurately portraying history. It is also mentioned in Greene's
more recent journal that the Linnean method fails at specifying clades based upon the origin of
limbs in tetrapods and shelled egg amniotes. While it also, "obscures the fact that crocodilians are
more closely related to birds than they are to turtles, lizards, and snakes," which does not highlight
many dramatic similarities between earlier archosaurs (Ballen, Cissy J., and Harry W. Greene).
These two main concerns of omission and obscuration are why the phylogenetic clade–based system
is a far more valuable and beneficial methodology for teaching zoology.
As it was mentioned previously, the phylogenetic clade–based perspective only recognizes
monophyletic taxa, which are those taxa derived from a common ancestor not shared with any other
group. There is another argument being made that paraphyletic groups should not be included as
units of study within a zoology course. Paraphyletic and monophyletic units of study both have their
benefits and drawbacks however I believe that

The Importance Of Sea Turtles
Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups. They are classified as amniotes. They have existed a
long time ago, which means they have seen the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of
humanity. Scientists think that turtles have existed for around 157 million years (mosaic 29).
Approximately, sea turtles were 65 million years ago (Dobbs 1). This family has survived the
passage of time and is threatened by the contamination that humans have created in the ocean. The
six sea turtles that occur on the coasts of America are in fact threatened. Sea turtles are very
important for the ecosystem, but humans, directly and indirectly, endanger this family. If humans do
not stop their destructive habits, we can lose the influence of sea turtles on seafarers. Sea turtles play
an important role in the ecology of the ocean, and without turtles, we can see an ecological collapse
in the oceans. Sea turtles are one of the few animals in the sea that eat sea grass (Godfrey). Sea
turtles act as grazing animals that cut short grass and help maintain the health of the family of
seaweed (Godfrey). In recent decades, there has been a decline in the sea grass family. This decrease
may be related to the decrease in the number of sea turtles (Godfrey). Sea grass is important because
it is a fertile ground for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans (Godfrey). The beaches and
sand dunes are known for not having many nutrients. When the sea turtles reach the land, they bury
their eggs

Similarities Between Birds And Crocodiles
Topic: A Comparative Study of the Anatomical and Behavioral Similarities in Chickens (Gallus
gallus domesticus) and American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus)
Solace Mills
PID: 4572168
Section U13
TA: Eduardo Gonzalez
Introduction
Studies have proven common ancestry between birds and crocodiles; they are classified in the same
monophyletic clade, Archosauria. Archosaurs are group of diapsid amniotes. Furthermore, a genetic
link has been established between birds and crocodiles.
(Feduccia, 1996)
Background Information on Birds
Anatomy
Stationary eyeball; must move head to vary range of vision.
Lack teeth
Wings and dense breast muscles to support flying.
Have lungs, air sacs, a syrinx, and their respiration requires two cycles to move a ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
T. (1973). Anatomy of the Chicken and Domestic Birds. Journal of Anatomy.
Only provide a good overview of bone structure, muscles and blood vessels in birds. Relevant as it
discusses anatomical features such as bone structure. Reference will be used to establish the bone
structure similarities between chickens and crocodiles.
Lutz, P. L., & Dunbar–Cooper, A. (1982). The nest environment of the American crocodile
(Crocodylus acutus). Homestead, Fla: National Park Service, South Florida Research Center,
Everglades National Park.
Journal provides a comprehensive account of crocodiles' nesting habits as well as habitat. Relevant
to topic as it provides the information necessary to compare chicken and crocodile nesting habits.
Reference will be incorporated in the comparison of mating/nesting behavioral patterns in crocodiles
and chickens.
Maina, J. (2005). The lung–air sac system of birds development, structure, and function. Berlin:
Springer–Verlag.
Thorough description and explanation of bird respiratory system. Relevant to topic because it
provides information necessary to discuss the respiratory system in chickens. Reference will be used
to support comparison of respiratory functions in chicken and

Hypotheses On the Origin of Birds Essay
Hypotheses On the Origin of Birds
Since the advent of the theory of evolution the origin of birds has been a thriving topic in science.
Many ideas and hypotheses have been presented, but only two stand today: that birds are
descendents of ancient thecodont stem reptiles, and that birds are the direct descendents of a group
of dinosaurs known as the coelurosaurs. Both hypotheses pose many interesting and insightful ideas
based on information obtained from the fossil record. There is not enough evidence at this time to
determine which hypothesis, if either, is right. Only more hard work by scientists will tell. Until then
we have only speculation, but speculation based in observed evidence.
The origin of birds is one of the great ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Theropods are a diverse group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs (see cladogram). They include the
largest terrestrial carnivores ever to have walked the earth. Several characters typify a theropod:
hollow bones, three main fingers on the manus (hand), and three main (weight–bearing) toes on the
pes (foot). Most theropods had sharp, recurved teeth useful for tearing flesh, and claws were present
on the ends of all of the fingers and toes (Hutchinson 2000). It is thought that birds are descendents
of the group of theropods known as the coelurosaur or maniraptora. (There is debate as to whether
these two groups should be one, so for the sake of this paper, I will refer to them as coelurosaurs.)
This group can be typified by such species as Velociraptor and Deinonychus (Hutchinson 2000).
The other hypothesis is that birds arose much earlier than dinosaurs from a group known to be the
ancestors of theropods: the thecodonts (Dingus and Rowe 1998). Thecodonts were small, agile
reptiles with long tails and short forelimbs, thought to include the ancestral stock of all other
archosaurs, including birds, all dinosaurs, pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles), and crocodilians
(Anonymous 2000).
The Theropod Hypothesis
The theropod hypothesis puts the entry of birds into the evolutionary arena after the line of descent
had continued from thecodonts to the saurischian dinosaurs and their subsequent split into

Carboniferous Research Paper
The carboniferous period lasted from about 359.2 to 299 million years ago, during the Paleozoic era.
The name "carboniferous" came from the large amounts of carbon–bearing coal that was formed
during the period. Several major biological, geological, and climatic events occurred at this time.
The amniote egg allowed further exploitation for certain tetrapods. It enabled ancestors of birds,
mammals, and reptiles to lay their eggs on land without fear of being dehydrated. The carboniferous
period was divided into two major subdivisions, the Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian. The
Mississippian was the early half and the Pennsylvanian being the last half. Climatically there was a
trend towards mild temperatures The beginning of the carboniferous generall had more tropical and
humid climates than exists today. The plant fossils form the carboniferous period resemble that they
lived in tropical and mildly temperature areas today. This climate may have been a result of the large
expanse of ocean that covered the surface of the globe, except a localized section. The early part of
the period was warm but the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Life of the carboniferous period was sizable and luxuriant. It included ferns, fernlike trees, giant
horsetails, club mosses, or lycopods, seed ferns, and cardaites. Plants in the Mississippian were
creating lots of oxygen in earths atmosphere. Plants started to develop bark during this time. Land
animals included primitive amphibians, reptiles, spiders, millipedes, land snails, scorpions,
enormous dragon flies, and more than 800 different types of cockroaches. The inland waters
included fishes, clams, and many crustaceans. The Mississippian animals had tetrapods, many grow
in the high humidity and oxygen. Sea life animals included sharks and corals which were

The Biology and Diversity of Extant Reptiles Essay
The Biology and Diversity of Extant Reptiles
The word reptile itself does not describe a monophyletic group of vertebrates, like the mammals or
birds. It is used to classify a polyphyletic group of animals that are a subset of the larger group of
Amniotes. The term is best described through a cladogram: [IMAGE]
The reptiles first appeared in the early Carboniferous, having evolved from labyrinthodont
amphibians. They had several distinct advantages over the amphibians that allowed them to flourish
during the cold, dry Permian period. These lead them to be the most successful group of vertebrates
and this period was referred to as the "age of reptiles." They exploited all terrestrial niches, ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Because of this reptiles were able withstand osmotic water loss and re–invade the sea. The Chelonia
(turtles) have become the most prolific marine reptile and they also have an interesting skin that is
worth mentioning. The have a shell covering their body, made out of a horny layer attached to a
denser bony layer. It comes in two pieces, the carapace, for dorsal protection and the plastrom for
ventral protection. 2 Excretion. Reptiles have modified their excretory products to conserve water.
Because they do not have a complex enough kidney to produce urea they create uric acid, a large
molecule that has a very low water content. Although the water content is lower than urea the trade
off is that the molecule is expensive to make. Reptiles also reduce the water content of their faeces
through active removal of NaCl. This creates an osmotic gradient to draw water out and desiccate
the excrement. The excess NaCl is then excreted through the nose. 3 Creation of the cloaca. This is a
cavity into which the urinary, alimentary and genital ducts open. It has three sections, the
coprodaeum where faeces collect and enter, the urodeum where the ureter empties out and water is
removed and finally the proctodaeum, the collection point for uric acid and faeces. This
centralisation of all the excretory products allows for greater water retention as well as providing for
the

Right To Left Shunt
1. We hypothesize ding processes of digestion and that the right–to–left shunt serves to provide
carbon dioxide to gastrointestinal organs besides the stomach, such as the pancreas, spleen, upper
small intestine, and liver
The bases of Farmer, Uriona, Steenblik, and Stander's hypothesis was the peculiar ability of
amniotes, excluding birds and mammals, to shunt blood past the lungs. Farmer, Uriona, Steenblik,
and Stander wanted to explain why birds and mammals do not shunt blood past their lungs like other
amniotes, and in their observation the purpose of their studies shifted to explain why amniotes right–
to–left shunt past the lungs in American alligators.
2. Completely–divided hearts are only found in mammals and birds, because endotherms, ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After one week of fasting, fourteen American alligators underwent surgery. Five American alligator
sent throw a sham surgery. The alligators were cut from midline ventral to the caudal end of the
sternum. The aortas were cleared, a medal suture place around blood vessels as a marker. The
treatment was finished by suturing the American Alligators up.
For the experiment group, which consisted of nine American alligators, underwent an actual surgery.
The American alligators were cut from midline ventral to the caudal end of the sternum. While the
right aorta was marked, the left aorta occluded with a suture at two sites.
6. The researchers conducted a sham surgery on the control group, so the control group would
undergo the same amount of stress as the experimental group. The researcher did not want the
surgery on the experimental alligators to be another variable in the experiment to conflict with acid
secretion in the alligators' digestive system.
7. The researchers directly measured the gastric acid production in the alligators by using the
maximum mean value occurring in a 10 minute interval over the entire observation periods.
The researchers were able to measure the digestion of bone by using digital calipers at a Phillips
Inturis PACS workstation.
8.
9. The flow of blood to the left aorta was at its peak 24 hours after digestion, and then began to
decreased as days postprandial

Heart and Right Atrium
The heart is a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels to various parts
of the body by repeated, rhythmic contractions. It is found in all animals with a circulatory system,
which includes the vertebrates.
The adjective cardiac means "related to the heart" and comes from the Greek καρδιά, kardia, for
"heart". Cardiology is the medical speciality that deals with cardiac diseases and abnormalities.
The vertebrate heart is principally composed of cardiac muscle and connective tissue. Cardiac
muscle is an involuntary striated muscle tissue specific to the heart and is responsible for the heart 's
ability to pump blood.
The average human heart, beating at 72 beats per minute, will beat approximately 2.5 billion ...
. thus, only in birds and mammals are the two streams of blood – those to the pulmonary and
systemic circulations – permanently kept entirely separate by a physical barrier.
In the human body, the heart is usually situated in the middle of the thorax with the largest part of
the heart slightly offset to the left, although sometimes it is on the right, underneath the sternum.
The heart is usually felt to be on the left side because the left heart is stronger . The left lung is
smaller than the right lung because the heart occupies more of the left hemithorax. The heart is fed
by the coronary circulation and is enclosed by a sac known as the pericardium; it is also surrounded
by the lungs. The pericardium comprises two parts: the fibrous pericardium, made of dense fibrous
connective tissue, and a double membrane structure containing a serous fluid to reduce friction
during heart contractions. The heart is located in the mediastinum, which is the central sub–division
of the thoracic cavity. The mediastinum also contains other structures, such as the esophagus and
trachea, and is flanked on either side by the right and left pulmonary cavities; these cavities house
the lungs.
The apex is the blunt point situated in an inferior direction. A stethoscope can be placed directly
over the apex so that the beats can be counted. It is located posterior to the 5th intercostal space just
medial of the

Green Sea Turtle Research Paper
A sea turtle is a large marine reptile with a bony or leathery shell and flippers, coming ashore
annually on sandy beaches to lay eggs. They are very ancient animals. The seven sea turtles you find
today have been around 110 years. The types of sea turtles are Green sea turtle, Leatherback sea
turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp Ridley sea turtle, and Olive Ridley sea
turtle. The scientific superfamily classification for sea turtles is Chelonioidea. The scientific name
for the Green sea turtle is Chelonia mydas. The scientific name for the Leatherback sea turtle is
Dermochelys coriacea. The scientific name for the Loggerhead sea turtle is Caretta caretta. The
scientific name for the Hawksbill sea turtle is Eretmochelys ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
They mate at sea then they return to land at night. The mother uses her hand flippers to dig a circular
hole 40 to 50 centimeters deep. When the nest is dug, she starts filling it with soft–shelled eggs until
she has placed around 50 to 350 eggs. Some only lay 250 eggs depending on the species. After she
fills the hole with eggs she fills it with sand and makes sure it has a smooth surface. She then
camouflages the nest with grass so it's harder for predators to find. It takes her about 30 to 60
minutes for the whole process. The mother then returns to the ocean while the eggs are untended.
The turtle gender depends on the temperature of the sand. Lighter sands make higher temperature so
that decreases incubation which makes more female turtles. It is warmer in the middle of the nest so
those sea turtles will most likely be females. Incubation takes about 50 to 60 days. The eggs hatch
together over a short amount of time. The hatchlings tear the egg apart with their caruncle and an
egg tooth. They then dig through the sand. All but one of the sea turtles will hatch at night which is
the Kemp sea turtle. It happens because they are most endangered. Sea turtles that hatch during the
day are more likely to be seen by predators. When they reach the surface of the nest they go straight
to the sea. The smaller the hatchling is the less likely it will survive. This happens because smaller
sea turtles are slower than bigger sea turtles ("Life

Evolution Of Live Birth And Snakes
Evolution of Live Birth in Snakes
The evolution of how snakes reproduce by bearing live offspring will be discussed by determining,
the evolutionary pathway of live birth, viviparity, egg laying birth, oviparity and giving live birth but
being kept in the womb in eggs until being ready to hatch, ovoviviparity. Discussion of the
advantages and disadvantages of each reproduction method will be determined. The objective of this
paper is to discuss the factors that have contributed to the evolution of snakes being viviparous.
The way snakes give birth is either through live birth, viviparity, or by laying eggs, oviparity. Snakes
are located within, Reptilia, the same class many dinosaurs were located in. Reptiles are the
descendants of creatures in the Paleozoic period called, Labrynthodonts. One of the earliest reptiles
that resembles the snake is the, Eophis, an eight inch long snake that lived in England (Guillette Jr.
1993). The Eophis was very different compared to modern snakes, Eophis had four legs and is
believed to have been living near water. The limbs are what enabled Eophis to move rapidly in water
(Guillette Jr., 1993). Around 100 million years ago the limbs in Eophis were loss and limbless
snakes evolved (Guillette Jr., 1993). The fossil record of early snakes is very rare due to snakes
consisting of many small and very fragile bones making them easily destroyed. Most of the species
classified within Reptilia are oviparous. (Guillette Jr., 1993). Snakes are no

Repticon Essay
For the past ten years, Repticon Reptile and Exotic Animal Conventions have toured America,
traveling to cities displaying a wide gamut of exotic pets with hopes of informing potential owners
about the benefits of owning one (Repticon). Because I have never obtained an affinity for exotic
animals, I was confident Repticon would ensure my uneasiness and feelings of being an outsider. As
I approached the front door, I was greeted by a gigantic, inflatable snake that welcomed eager
attendees, much like a theater shows previews to excited audiences waiting to see a movie. My
uneasiness immediately set in. Once I entered the open, airy room, I was stamped with a turtle on
my hand. There was no turning back now. The room had no prominent smell (to my surprise) and
was filled with collapsible tables arranged in squares, with each square presenting a different group
or category to participants. For example, some tables displayed actual reptiles, amphibians,
arachnids (yikes!), and anthropods while others focused on selling accessories (water bowls, ...
The customer, attendees, and participants of Repticon were mostly families: middle class, blue–
collar workers with kids. Some participants seemed to be there with their families to provide a
source of entertainment to their kids while others had an obvious obsession or strong fascination for
reptiles. One participant even wore unique pants that had snakes embroidered on the leg. Other
participants wore cowboy hats and torn jeans. I walked past many people who talked to their pet
lizard while holding it on their shoulder with a leash attached to it. This was an unfamiliar sight to
see but I could relate to it in the way that I treat my dog. This made me realize that a pet is a pet.
Whether it is a dog, cat, lizard, or a spider, we can all find joy in nurturing a life that unconditionally
loves

The Evolution Of Tetra Pods

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