Do the Evolution
This ancient species' name means "shelled skin".
What is Ostracaderms.
This fishy structure allows species to suspend themselves in the water, and has nothing to do with the amount of urine they produce.
What is the air bladder.
Thinking about this cryptic order of amphibians can make one hungry, especially if you like pizza.
What are caecilians.
The amniotic egg provides protection, nutritious yolk, and this less-appreciated fact associated with porosity.
What is gas exchange.
This taxonomic class is the only vertebrate group that has complex life cycles, no matter how wet they are.
What are the amphibians.
The first vertebrates with a jawed-mouth, and that is exactly what their name means.
What are the Gnathostomes.
What is catadromy.
Salamanders without lungs are found throughout the world, but evolved as a family in this mountain chain, which also produced bluegrass.
What are the Appalachians.
Snakes that hug their prey to death can be described by this narrow term.
What are constrictors.
Evolutionarily, fish scales come from bone, but reptile scales come from this exposed part of the body?
What is epidermis.
Springing from the lobe-finned Sarcopterigians, this group begat amphibians, Anthracasaurs, and all of the rest of vertebrate evolution; also a plant structure combined with four groups of whales.
It's not laughter that fish feel on their sides with this unique morphological structure made especially for water.
What is the lateral line.
This fungal pathogen is the most important disease affecting amphibians and thankfully has a shortened version of its lengthy name.
What is chytridiomycosis (will accept chytrid).
If it has a head like a diamond and eyes like a cat, you might as well crank the metal for this serpent.
What is a pit viper.
Lizards and salamanders both share this trait, which may allow them to escape death, even alone.
What is tail autotomy.
We will never know if this ancient species was the one that made the giant leap from water to land, but at least it had all the traits it needed to do so, even if its name sounds sort of like a minty confection.
What is Tiktaalik.
This fin sits behind the dorsal in salmonids, and is often clipped for mark and recapture, but it moves more than it's name suggests.
What is the adipose fin.
This family of salamanders exhibits three of the four amphibian life cycles, exhibited by the axolotl, tiger salamander, and spotted salamander.
What is the Ambystomatidae
This type of ESD produces males in the middle, but only after you flip a U.
What is Phase II ESD.
This type of fertilization can put extra work on a male, whether he is a fish or amphibian, something male reptiles never ever have to worry about.
What is external fertilization.
Archelosaurs (not Archosaurs) exhibit these two skull types, spread taxonomically all the way from turtles to birds.
What are anapsid (turtles) and diapsid (others).
What is a heterocercal tail.
The most derived amphibian life cycle is practically a reptile, or as close as one can get and still be an amphibian.
What is direct development.
These reptiles are most morphologically similar to early amniotes, at least when they are using their heads.
What are the turtles.
Bowfin spots, bullfrog tympanums, and colorful lizard dewlaps are all examples of this morphological variation that inspired Darwin to write an entire book.
What is sexual dimorphism.