Paraphyletic class Reptlia

The First truly terrestrial vertebrates

Nearly 8000 species occupying a great variety of aquatic
and terrestrial habitats
The Age of Reptiles lasted for more than 165 millions
years including herbivorous and and carnivorous
dinosaurs ( dominated life on land)
Mass extinction was at the end of Mesozoic era
Among the few reptilian groups to emerge from the
Mesozoic era are todays Reptiles including 2 species of
tuataras (sphenodon) in New Zealand sole survivors of the
groups
But lizards, and snakes have radiated since Mesozoic
extinction into diverse abundant group.

Origin and Adaptive Radiation of

Reptilian Groups
Most paleontologists agree that amniotes arose from a
group of amphibian-like tetrapods, the anthracosaurs,
during the early carboniferous ( approximately
300millions years ago)
Increasing evolutionary pressure and the vast
untouched niches of the land powered the evolutionary
changes in amphibians to gradually become more and
more land-based.
Environmental selection propelled the development of
certain traits, such as a stronger skeletal structure,
muscles, and more protective coating (scales) became
more favorable; the basic foundation of reptiles were
founded.

Adapted from wikipedia

Mesozoic scene showing typical reptilian megafauna: thedinosaursEuropasaurus holgeriandIguanodon, and the
early birdArchaeopteryxperched on the foreground tree stump.

 Amniotes had separated into three major groups: anapsids, diapsids,

synapsids
The Anapsis
(Gr.an, without, + apsis, arch)
Characterized by a skull having no temporal opening behind the eye sockets.
The skull completely roofed with dermal bone
Represented today by turtles
The Diapsis
(Gr.di, double, + apsis, arch)
has two temporal openings: one pair located low on the cheeks, the second
pair above the lower pair and separated by a bony arch
These openings allow for additional muscle attachment
There 4 subgroups of the diapsis
Lepidosaurs ( include all modern reptiles except turtles & crocodillian)
Archosaurs (comprised dinosaurs and their relatives and living crocodillians &
birds)
Sauropterygians ( includes several extinct aquatic groups)
Ichthyosaurus (represented by extinct aquatic dolphinlike form)

 The Synapsis
(Gr.syn, together, + apsis, arch)
The mammals extinct forms traditionally
termed mammal-like reptiles
Has a single pair of temporal
openings located on the cheecks and
bordered by a bony arch
Giving rise to pelycosaurs later to
therapsids and finally to mammals

Anapsis

Diapsis

Synapsis

Changes in Traditional classification

of Reptilian groups
1. Cladistic methodology insists on hierarchical arrangement of
monophyletic groups.
2. this disqualifies the traditional class Reptilia as a valid taxon
because it is not monophyletic.
3. Class Reptilia excludes birds, which descend from the most
recent common ancestor of reptiles.
4. This makes the class Reptilia a paraphyletic group because it
does not include all descendants and their most recent common
ancestor.
5. Reptiles are therefore identified as amniotes that are not birds
6. Based solely on shared derived characteristics, crocodilians and
birds are sister groups belonging to a monophyletic group apart
from other reptiles, the Archosauria
7. Some taxonomists defined Reptilia as the Archosauria plus the
lepidosaurs, thus including birds.
8. Evolutionary taxonomists argue that birds represent a novel
adaptive zone and grade oforganization; they maintain the class
Aves based on the morphological and ecological novelty of birds.

Class Reptilia
Body varied shape, compact in some , elongated in
others
Body covered with keratinized epidermal scales
Two paired limbs, usually five toes
Skull with one occipital condyle
Efficient jaws for crushing and gripping prey
Respiration by lungs
Circulatory system divided to pulmonary and systemic
circuits
Ectothermic: thermoregulate behaviorally
Internal fertilization
Eggs covered with calcarous or leathery shells

Cladogram of tetrapods (land vertebrates). Reptiles as a group exist

on different branches rather than all together
Source: http://www.iflscience.com/

Summary
Reptiles are amniotes diverged phylogenetically from a
group tetrapods during Paleozoic era over 300 million
years ago
Their success as terrestrial vertebrates is attributed in
large part to evolution of amniotic eggs (3
extraembryonic membranes: support to embryonic
development)
Reptiles are distinguish from amphibians by their dry,
scaly skin that limits water loss; more powerful jaws;
internal fertilization; and advanced circulatory,
respiratory, excretory and nervous systems
Reptiles are ectotherm but most exercise considerable
behavioral control over their body temperature

 Before the end of Paleozoic era; reptiles

radiates that separated into 3 groups:
anapsids, give rise to turtle; diapsid,
which lead to other reptiles and to birds;
synapsids led to modern mammals
Turtles ( order Testudines) with their
distinctive shells have change a little since
Triassic period
Turtles are small group of long lived
aquatic marine species
They lack teeth, oviparous, bury their eggs

 Lizards, snakes and worm lizards (Order

Squamata)
form 95% of Reptiles
Lizards (Sub order Lacertilia) are diversified
and successful group adapted for walking,
running, climbing and burrowing
They distinguished from snakes having 2 pairs
of limbs, fused lower jaw halves, movable
eyelids and external earsmany are adapted
for survival under hot, arid dessert condition

 Worm lizards (Sub order Amphisbaenia) are

small tropical limbless squamates highly
adapted for burrowing
Snakes ( Suborder Serpentes) entirely limbless
Characterized by elongates body and highly
kinetic skull that permits them to swallow prey
that may be larger than snakes own diameter
Most snakes rely on chemical senses
especially Jacobsons organ to hunt prey

 Tuataras (Order Sphendonta)

Represent relic genus and sole
survivor of a group disappeared 100
million years ago
They bear several features identical
to those of Mesozoic fossil

 Crocodiles and alligators (Order Crocodillia)

The only living reptilian representatives of the
archosaurian lineage that gave rise to extinct
dinosaures and living birds
They have several adaptations for
carnivorous,
Semi-aquatic life including massive skull with
powerful jaws and secondary palate.
They have most complex behavior of any
living reptiles

References