Archosauria
Archosauria have this type of skull fenestration
This structure in the ear helps with balance in 3-dimensional space
What are semi-circular canals?
Bones that are hollow are called.
What are Pneumatic bones?
What major event contributed to the increase in mammalian diversity?
What is the dinosaur extinction (also the angiosperm radiation)?
All mammals have these two characteristics
What are mammary glands and hair/fur?
Who are birds most closely related to?
What are crocodylians?
This sense assesses movement, pressure, and streching of the skin of the wings.
What is Proprioception?
This characteristic provided a strong, stable platform for flight muscles to attach.
The three clades of mammals
What are prototheria, megatheria, and eutheria?
This clade lays eggs
What are Prototherians?
Winged, flying reptiles
what are Pterosaurs?
The four parts of the feather are?
What are the calamus, rachis, vane, and barbs/barbules?
These characteristics support active fight and usually reflect the ecological niche occupied.
What are specialized forelimbs?
Specialization of this structure is thought to have contributed to mammalian evolution and diversity
What are teeth?
This clade gives birth to poorly developed live young
What are metatherians?
What are Ornithischia and Saurischia?
Explain how birds create thrust and lift in flight.
What is Newton's 3rd law of motion or Bernoulli's principle? Flapping of the wings creates less pressure above the wings, increased pressure below the wings lifts bird
This part of the bird brain is very developed and helps birds maintain a steady gaze during flight.
What is the flocculus?
The two main components to the tribosphenic molar
What is the trigonid (triangular cusps) and talonid (basin)?
Explain the difference between altricial and precocial offspring
Altricial - unable to move independently shortly after birth
Precocial - able to move independently shortly after birth
Leading theory of bird evolution
What is the thecodont theory? Birds evolved from small, bipedal theropod dinosaurs
Describe the four theories that explain the evolution of flight.
What is the cursorial theory? Theropods chased prey and jumped/lifted themselves off the ground to improve hunting, eventually led to more developed forelimbs and flight
What is WAIR? Theropods used wings to escape predators and propel themselves up steep inclines.
What is pennibranchia? Feathers were used as ornamentation and flight was a secondary consequence.
Explain how bird lungs function
Name two types of specialized mammalian teeth and the types of organisms that you would find them in
Carnassial - carnivore
Quadrate - herbivore
Explain endothermy
What is control of the body temperature via metabolic heat production coupled with control of heat loss via insulation (fur) or behaviors (sweating, shivering, etc.)?