Lecture 4 Tetrapods I

Tetrapods are descended from sarcopterygian fish

Sarcopterygian fish of the kind thought to be ancestral to tetrapods.

KK Fig. 3.20

Class Amphibia*
Amphibia, the first tetrapod or land-dwelling vertebrates, appear about 400 mybp. Their ancestors were Sarcopterygii with lungs and limb-like fins. early Amphibia lived in the swamp forests that produced the coal deposits we have so thoroughly dug up, so we know many kinds. There are more Amphibia known as fossils than as living species.
*Kardong feels that the term Amphibia should only include the modern forms, and not the first land-dwelling vertebrates, but I will use the term in the more general sense.

Amphibia are not fully terrestrial, as we can see if we list the adaptation required to move completely away from the water.
Sarcopteryigii

Amphibia yes yes yes few, somewhat yes few, recent

Reptilia yes yes yes yes yes yes

limbs for walking lungs, external nares stronger limb girdles and spine desiccation resistant skin oral glands terrestrial eggs

limited yes yes

Amphibian Classification
Hildebrand and Goslow, 5th edition: Class Amphibia* Subclass Icthyosteglia (first, fish-like Amphibia) Subclass Anthracosauria (ancestors of reptiles) Subclass Temnospondyli (ancestors of Lissamphibia) Subclass Lissamphibia (modern Amphibia) Kardong Class Labyrinthodontia* (Ichthyostegalia, Anthacosauria and Temnospondyli) Class Amphibia Subclass Lepospondyla Subclass Lissamphibia*
*terms I will use

Examples of the extinct Amphibians or labyrinthodonts

Ichthyostegalians were decidedly fish-like, often with fins on the tail and numerous digits.

Anthrocosaurs were large, robust creatures unlike modern Amphibia. They are named for their highlyfolded labyrinthodont teeth.

KK Fig. 3.22, 3.23. H&G Fig. 4.1

Labyrinthodont Teeth

Labyrinthodont teeth are highly folded for strength. They are found in some Sarcopterygii (crossopterygians), labyrinthodonts, and early reptiles.

KK 13.12

Subclass Lissamphibia
modern Amphibia
Order Urodela, salamanders

Order Anura, frogs and toads

Order Apoda (Gymnophonia) caecilians

The Amniotes
KK Fig. 5.29, H&G Fig. 5.11

The remaining classes of vertebrates (Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia) are collectively called amniotes referring to the way they reproduce.

They lay descication-resistant, amniotic eggs on land, or bear live young. These eggs require internal fertilization.

Class Reptilia
Reptilia are the first truly terrestrial vertebrates. They are not restricted to damp environments. They have dry, keratinized skin that resists moisture loss and allows them to bask and raise their body temperatures. They lay amniotic eggs on land or retain their eggs internally to produce live young.

The first reptiles appear in the fossil record about 300 mybp.

Reptile Classification
Hildebrand & Goslow Class Reptilia*

Subclass Anapsida (stem reptiles)

Subclass Testudinata (turtles) Subclass Diapsida (snakes, lizards, crocodilians, dinosaurs) Subclass Synapsida* (mammal-like reptiles)

Kardong Class Reptilia* (note that Kardong excludes the Synapsida from the reptiles)

Subclass Mesosauria* (aquatic reptiles, extinct)

Subclass Parareptilia* (turtles and some extinct related forms) Subclass Eureptilia* (anapsids, diapsids, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs) * terms I will use

Reptile Skulls
H&G Fig. 8.18 KK Fig. 3.28

The various reptile taxa ending in apsida are named for the openings or apses in the temple region of the skull.

Subclass Mesosauria
Early reptiles, secondarily aquatic.

250-300 mybp

Parareptilia
KK 3.30

In 2008, a description of an early turtle from China was published that illustrates how the turtle shell evolved. (Nature 456: 497-501)

Class Reptilia Eureptilia

Includes: Dinosaurs (ornithischians, saurischians, pterodactyls, thecodonts, icthyosaurs, plesiosaurs). Crocodilians (alligators, crocodiles) Snakes and lizards.

Eureptilia, Dinosaurs
KK 3.36, H&G 4.7

Eureptilia dominated the fauna of the land for >100 million years during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They gave rise to the birds, and some believe that birds should be included in the Reptiles. The two main dinosaur groups are named for the structure of their hips.

KK 3.35

Aquatic Eureptilia
These are the ones that are sometimes referred to as euryapsids. KK Fig. 3.22 H&G 4.8

Flying Eureptilia Pterosaurs or pterodactyls

Some pterosaurs were larger than any modern bird, up to 12 m in wingspan.

KK 3.34

Modern Eureptilia include crocodilians, Sphenodon,

and lepidosaurs (snakes and lizards)

(Tuatara)

KK 3.34 KK 3.33 H&G 4.5, 4.6

Synapsida
KK 3.43,3.44 H&G 4.3

Synapsida are often called mammal-like reptiles and are thought to be ancestral to the mammals. Kardong does not consider them to be reptiles.

They appeared at the same time as Eureptilia, but went extinct as dinosaurs radiated in the Jurassic.
mammalian characterstics: dentition, details of the skull, limb girdles, gait, endothermy? hair? mammary glands?