Infraclass: Teleostei
In this infraclass, all of the fish are considered to be the ray-finned fish . They have a movable maxilla and premaxilla and modified muscles that allow them to have a protrusable mouth.
1

Infraclass: Teleostei
• Superorder: Osteoglossomorpha
– Bony Tongued fish
• Superorder: Elopomorpha
– Snake-like scale-less fish
• Superorder: Clupeomorpha
– Physostomes , which means that the gas bladder has a pneumatic duct connecting it to the gut.
They typically lack a lateral line
• Superorder: Ostariphysi
– Their first few vertebrates are used to pass sound from the swim bladder to the inner ear for acute hearing 2

Infraclass: Teleostei
• Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
– These are fish that lack specialization
• Superorder: Stenopterygii
– Deep water fish. Bioluminescent
• Superorder: Scopelomorpha
– Deep water fish. Bioluminescent . They have large eyes and adipose fins.
• Superorder: Acanthopterygii
– They usually have a Pelvic fin spine present.
3

Superorder:Osteroglossomorpha
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Arowana are freshwater bony fish . They have a unique structure called a
“bony tongue”. This is actually derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth and bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth.
They can obtain oxygen from the air by sucking it into the swim bladder which is lined with capillaries.
4

Superorder: Elopomorpha
Order: Anguillidiformes
Morey Eel’s are found in all tropical seas usually in shallow water with their body wedged in a crevice .
Morey eels primarily eat other fish and mollusks . Their mouth is often open (and moving) to help water circulate through the gills
5

Superorder: Clupeomorpha
Order: Clupeiformes
The anchovy is a small green fish with blue reflections due to a silver longitudinal stripe that runs from the base of the caudal fin .
They are found in the oceans worldwide . Anchovies exhibit a special way of feeding called planktivory . These fish swim through the water with their large mouths open and strain out small organisms (plankton) with fine, sieve-like structures called gill rakers.
6

Superorder: Clupeomorpha
Order: Clupeiformes
The sardines are a fish found worldwide (but named after an island in the Mediterranean).
They are also called pilchards . Sardines are packed with nutrients
(omega-3 fatty acids,
Vitamin D, Calcium, B-
12, and protein).
7

Superorder:Ostariophysi
The superorder: Ostariophysi are fish that have two main characteristics: they release an alarm substance and their first few vertebrates are used to pass sound from the swim bladder to the inner ear for acute hearing.
In this lab it includes the 1) Loachs, 2)
Characins, 3) Knifefish, and 4) Catfish
8

Superorder: Ostariphysi
Order: Cypriniformes
The Loaches are small benthic freshwater fish.
Loaches are mostly scavengers and are omnivorous, usually not very picky about their food.
Many live in waters of generally poor quality and some have adapted to less-than-ideal water conditions by being able to gulp up atmospheric oxygen from the air.
9

Superorder: Ostariphysi
Order: Characiformes
Piranha are carnivorous fresh water fish living in South
American Rivers.
They are normally only 6-10 inches long.
They are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat. They generally pose no threat to humans. Humans frequently swim in piranhainfested waters without attacks.
Their aggressiveness may increase due to limited food but rarely do they eat animals much larger than themselves.
They have similar abilities to sharks to detect blood in the water.
10

Superorder: Ostariphysi
Order: Characiformes
Hatchet Fish are a deep sea fish that get their name from their thin, hatchet-shaped body. Like other deep sea fish, they have the ability to create their own lighting process known as bioluminescence . Since the photophores (organs producing light) point downward, it is believed they use them for counter illumination to avoid predators from below .
11

Superorder: Ostariphysi
Order: Cymnotiformes
The Knife fish are primarily freshwater inhabitants and have organs derived from muscle cells that are adapted to the generation of electric fields .
12

Superorder: Ostariphysi
Order: Siluriformes
The Catfish are named for their prominent barbels , which give the image of cat -like whiskers .
Unlike other fish, There are armour-plated types and also naked types, neither having scales . The glass catfish are transparent because, like all catfish they do not have scales and they also don't have body pigment.
The glass catfish turns milky white when dead, suggesting it does something during its life to keep it transparent
13

Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
The Superorder: Protacanthopterygii are fish that lack specialization.
They are important game fish
In this lab it includes 1) Salmon, 2) Pike and
3) Smelt
14

Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Salmon are typically anadromous : they are born in fresh water , migrate to the ocean , then return to fresh water to reproduce .
Both Atlantic and Pacific
Salmon are important to recreational fishing around the world. Currently in
California, Salmon fishing has been suspended because the numbers of fish are dangerously low.
15

Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Trout are found in the subfamily along with salmon.
Trout have fins entirely without spines, and all of them have a small adipose (fatty) fin along the back, near the tail . Trout are found in clear streams and lakes but are often anadromous (like salmon).
16

Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
Order: Esociformes
Pike have the elongated, torpedo-like form of predatory fishes, with sharply-pointed heads and sharp teeth. They devour fish up to one-third of their own size.
Pike are cannibalistic; some 20% of their diet consists of pikes smaller than themselves .
Pike have little respect for relative size and as a result have been known to bite swimmers and divers.
17

Superorder: Protacanthopterygii
Order: Osmeriformes
Smelt are small anadromous fish . Smelt has a character odor, similar to the smell of cucumbers .
Smelt roe is bright orange in color, and is often used to garnish sushi .
18

Superorder: Stenopterygii
Order: Stomilliformes
Dragonfish are among the fish known as deep water fish . Like other deep water fish, they are capable of bioluminescence . Unlike other bioluminescent creatures, they can glow and perceive a red or bluegreen light (most species only perceive blue light) which allows it to see its prey before they are seen.
19

Superorder: Scopelomorpha
Order: Myctophiformes
The lantern fish are found in the deep sea . Like other deep water fish, they are bioluminescent.
They are a very common deep water fish and they make up about 65% of the deep sea biomass.
20

Superorder: Scopelomorpha
Order: Myctophiformes
The Superorder: Acanthopterygii are fish that have spiny fins.
In this lab it includes the rest of the fish in lab.
21

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Mugiliformes
Mullet are ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water .
Mullets have served as an important source of food.
Mullet does not keep well after it is caught. If kept on ice it may remain edible for approximately 72 hours.
22

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Antheriniformes
Silversides are ray-finned fish which usually have two dorsal fins , the first with flexible spines, and an anal fin with one spine at the front. The lateral line is typically weak or absent.
Mosquito fish may now be the most widespread freshwater fish in the world, having been introduced as a biocontrol (to control mosquitoes).
23

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Antheriniformes
Grunion are famous marine bony fish found spawning on the sandy beaches of southern California . At night, from March through
September, females burrow backwards in the sand to lay their eggs just after the highest tides. They occur on the second through fourth nights after the full or new moons. Each female is accompanied by several males which come to fertilize the eggs.
24

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Beloniformes
Flying fish are a marine fish. Their most striking feature is their pectoral fins , which are unusually large, and enable the fish to take short gliding flights through the air, above the surface of the water, in order to escape from predators.
25

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Desert Pupfish are an endangered species due to introduced species and habitat destruction/fragmentati on. Desert pupfish are well-adapted to the rapid water temperature changes (can tolerate from 50-100 degrees F) and high salinity they experience in their habitat.
26

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Stephanoberyciformes
Ridgeheads are also known as bigscales , are a small, deepsea fish.
These fish are named for their large scales and pronounced cranial ridges. The family is sometimes termed pseudoceanic because, rather than having an even distribution in open water, ridgeheads occur in significantly higher abundances around structural oases, notably seamounts and over continental slopes .
27

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Gobiesociformes
Clingfishes are ray-finned fish where in most species the pelvic fins are modified into a sucking disc . Most species are marine, being found in shallow waters of the Atlantic , Pacific and
Indian Oceans .
28

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Sticklebacks are ray-finned fish that have no scales, although some species have bony armour plates.
They are closely related to pipefish and seahorses.
Niko Tinbergen 's studies of the behaviour of this fish were important in the early development of ethology as an example of a fixed action pattern .
29

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Synganthiformes
Sea Horses and Pipefish are notable because they are the only species in which males become
“pregnant” . The males have brood pouches which the female uses an ovipositor to deposit the eggs. It is believed that the pouch regulates salinity for the eggs.
These fish are recognizable because of their shape They have this shape to help them hide in the sea grass.
30

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Tetradontiformes
Porcupine fish are recognizable for their shape. They are often confused with puffer fish but porcupine fish have spines.
They blow up like this to avoid predators .
They get this shape by swallowing water (or air) which limits what can eat them.
31

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Tetradontiformes
Cowfish are recognizable for their shape. They look this way because The hexagonal platelike scales of these fish are fused together into a solid, triangular, box-like carapace , from which the fins and tail protrude. Because of these heavy armoured scales, Cowfish are limited to slow movements, but few other fish are able to eat the adults.
32

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Halibut are flatfish from the family of the righteye flounders . When the Halibut is born the eyes are on both sides of its head so it has to swim like a salmon .
After about 6 months one eye will migrate to the other side of its head so they lay on the bottom for camouflage.
33

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Sculpin are bottom feeders that are generally not considered good to eat, and have sharp spines rather than scales .
They use their large pectoral fins to stabilize themselves on the floor of flowing creeks and rivers.
34

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Girabaldi are California’s
State Marine Fish. They are found in the Pacific
Ocean from Monterey Bay to Baja California. They are associated with reefs and rocky sea-bottoms.
They eat mostly invertebrates off the rocks.
They have the ability to change their sex multiple times during their life to level out the ratio of males to females.
35

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Striped Marlin are large oceanic fish that can reach nearly 12 feet and can weigh up t0 450 lbs.
They are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.
They are built for speed in the open ocean feeding on mackerel, sardines, anchovy, squid and crab near the surface.
36

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Wrasses are exclusively marine in distribution usually in shallow water habitats such as coral reefs and rocky shores.
The
Sheepheads are found in kelp beds, on coral reefs and among sea grasses . Its strong teeth make this fish an opportunistic predator.
Sheephead wrasse establish their own feeding patch which is dominated by one male.
When he dies, one of the older and larger females in the group
(around 30cm) changes colour and turns into a male.
37

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Ocean Sunfish are the heaviest known bony fish in the world. It has an average adult weight of 1 ton. Sunfish live on a diet that consists mainly of Sea jellies. As this diet is nutritionally poor, they consume large amounts in order to develop and maintain their great bulk
38

Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Clownfish all form symbiotic relationships with sea anemones . The clownfish feeds on undigested matter which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone, and the fecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrient to the sea anemone.
39

Osteichthyes (External)
Fish have a torpedo shape which allows them to reduce drag while swimming through the water.
They also have the following structures:
Ctenoid scales: embedded in the skin
Eyes: located on the sides with no eyelids and they do not have binocular vision.
Lateral line: sensitive to pressure changes
Operculum: Hard covering over gills
Skeletal System: axial (skull and verebrae) and appendicular
(girdles and fins) which are very flexible for swimming
40

Osteichthyes (External)
41

System
Muscular
Digestive
Excretory
Circulatory
Osteichthyes (Internal)
Structure
Myomeres
Stomach
Pyloric Ceca
Intestine
Liver
Function
Small contractions
Chemical Digestion
Increases SA
Absorption of nutrients
Storage, conversion, removes toxins
Pancreas
Spleen
Kidneys
Urinary Bladder
Secretes enzymes
Immune response
Filtration
Holds Urine
Sinus venosus
Atrium
Receives venus blood
Pumps blood into ventricle
Ventricle Pumps blood into body
Bulbus arteriosus Maintains even blood flow
42

Osteichthyes (Internal)
System Structure
Respiratory
Nervous
Gills
Brain
Spinal Cord
Reproductive Ovaries
Testis
Swim Bladder Swim Bladder
Function
Gas Exchange
Nervous system control
Nervous signals
Produce Eggs
Produce Sperm
Buoyancy
43

The word amphibian means: two lives which refers to the metamorphosis seen in many frogs. The skin is smooth and moist. They have a three chambered heart with a double circulation system. This class includes three orders: Urodela (salamanders), Anurans (frogs and toads), and apodians (caecilians).
44

45

In general, venomous animals must inject their toxin via a bite or sting whereas the toxin from a poisonous animal must be ingested.
• Southern
Pacific
Rattlesnake
(Venomous)
• California
Newt
(Poisonous)
46

California Newts are poisonous animals because they secrete toxins thorough their moist skin and usually cause harm when they are ingested. The toxins are called tarichatoxin and they are very strong neurotoxins. The toxins have been known to kill humans and other animals that have attempted to eat California Newts.
47

Order: Urodela
Another species of
Salamander in the area is the
Ensantina. It is considered a ring species in
California’ central valley. The ensatina can usually be found under logs, brush, by or in streams and lakes, and in other moist places.
48

Order: Urodela
Another species of salamander in the area is the
Slender California Salamander. It is found in oak woodlands, grasslands and riparian zones . They may be found resting beneath leaf litter or other rotting logs or rocks providing a wet environment .
The slender shape of the California slender salamander is well adapted for penetration of earthworm or termite burrows to forage for prey .
49

Order: Urodela
Another species of salamander in the area is the
Lungless Salamander. They lack lungs, conducting respiration through their skin, and the tissues lining their mouths.
They must keep these surfaces moist and so have to live in damp environments, such as beneath logs, in caves or in wet rock crevices, and only venture out in humid weather .
50

51

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
Some toads and frogs are poisonous because they secrete toxins through their skin. Toads tend to have bumpier skin and large parotid glands which may secrete toxins. Frogs tend to have smoother skin and no parotid glands. Poison
Arrow Frogs obtain their poison from eating other toxic animals such as centipedes
52

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
The spadefoot toads are burrowing frogs . They are round, with short legs and protruding eyes. As suggested by their name, this frog has hard, keratinous protrusion present on their feet , which helps them to dig. Like most burrowing frogs, they will dig backwards into the ground.
53

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
The Red Spotted toads are native to the southwestern United States and northwestern
Mexico, especially Baja California . It occurs primarily along rocky streams and riverbeds, often in arid or semi-arid regions . It is very localized on the coastal slope, but widespread in the deserts. In dry areas it needs seasonal pools or even temporary rain puddles to use for breeding.
54

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
The California Tree Frog is a cryptically colored species, often resembling granitic stones . The
California tree frog has conspicuous toe webbing and pads, and its dorsal skin is roughened and warty. This is a species most likely to occur along streams with abundant boulders .
55

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
The Pacific Tree Frogs are the most common frogs on the west coast of North America.
They can be identified by the black or dark brown eye stripe that goes over the eye from the nose to the shoulder. Their toes are long and only very slightly webbed. On the end of each toe, there is a round sticky toe pad or disks used for climbing and sticking to surfaces. This tree frog makes its home in riparian habitats as well as woodlands, grassland, chaparral, pasture land, and
56 even urban areas including back yard ponds .

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anurans
Bullfrogs are the largest frog in the United States. They are an introduced species here in the west. They have become a problem here because they eat basically anything they can get into their mouth and have had an impact on the local fauna. They can be easily recognized by their size and the large tympanic membrane behind their eyes.
57

Class: Amphibia (External)
The three functions of the skull of an amphibian are 1) protection of the nervous system, 2) feeding apparatus, and
3) a means for respiration. The skeletal system is not as flexible as the fish because it has become a rigid frame of transmitting force from the hind limbs to the body. The appendicular skeleton is now more modified. The pectoral girdle absorbs shock during landings. The pelvic girdle is modified for jumping. The sacral hump is made from the protusion of the pelvic girdle. Frogs lack ribs (except a few primitive ones). The tongue is attached to the front of the mouth. The tympanic membrane is an area of tight skin that acts like an eardrum. The eyes have eyelids and a nicitating membrane (a transparent membrane).
58

Class: Amphibia (Internal)
System
Muscular
Digestive
Excretory
Circulatory
Structure
Muscles
Stomach
Intestine
Liver
Gall Bladder
Pancreas
Spleen
Kidneys
Urinary Bladder
Atrium
Ventricle
Function
Contractions
Chemical Digestion
Absorption of nutrients
Storage, conversion, removes toxins
Store Bile
Secretes enzymes
Immune response
Filtration
Holds Urine
Pumps blood into ventricle
Pumps blood into body
59

Class: Amphibia (Internal)
System Structure
Respiratory
Nervous
Lungs
Cerebrum
Olfactory Lobe
Optic Lobe
Medulla
Oblongata
Spinal Cord
Reproductive Ovaries
Testis
Function
Gas Exchange
Higher Thought
For smell
For sight
Sends messages between brain and SC
Transports signals
Produce Eggs
Produce Sperm
60

“Reptilia”
Unlike amphibians, reptiles have a tough, dry skin.
They must obtain almost all their oxygen skeletal system is through their lungs. Most reptiles lay amniotic eggs that allow them to complete their life cycles on land. The old class “Reptilia” has been divided into four new classes:
- Class: Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises)
- Class: Sphenodontia (Tuataras)
- Class: Squamata (Lizards and Snakes)
- Class: Crocodilia (Crocodiles and Alligators)
61

Class: Testidunes
62

Class: Testidunes
63

Class: Testidunes
64

Class: Testidunes
Mata matas are a freshwater turtle found in South America , primarily in the Amazon. The mata mata's shell appearance resembles a piece of bark and its head resembles fallen leaves . As it remains motionless in the water, its skin flaps enable it to blend into the surrounding vegetation, until a fish comes close The mata mata thrusts out its head and opens its large mouth as wide as possible, creating a low-pressure volume that sucks the prey into the turtle's mouth . The Matamata snaps its mouth shut, the water is slowly expelled, and the fish is swallowed whole as the mata mata cannot chew due to the way its mouth is constructed.
65

Class: Testidunes
66

Class: Testidunes
67

Class: Sphenodontia
68

Class: Squamata
69

Class:
Squamata
Many species of lizards are capable of tail autotomy .
This occurs when the tail breaks off and continues to move which allows the lizard to escape from predators . Zebra-tailed lizards have a black and white striped tail which they flash up and down to divert predators towards the tail.
Juvenile Western
Skinks have a bright blue tail which tends to attract predators to the tail so that the lizard can escape .
70

Class:
Squamata
71

Class:
Squamata
There are 15 species of horned lizards.
Horned lizards have scales that match the color of the local substrate and they have dorsoventally flattened bodies.
This allows enables them to blend into the environment. When threatened by predators, many species of horned lizards will squirt blood from their eyes to deter predators.
Horned lizards are myrmecophagous (ant eaters). They have specialized teeth for eating ants and an enlarged stomach that allows to better digest ant meals.
Horned lizards also do a behavior called “rain harvesting” in which they arch there body during and use scales to channel raindrops from their body towards there mouth.
72

Class:
Squamata
Gila monsters and Mexican
Beaded lizards are both types of Heloderms . They are the only two venomous lizards in the world. The venom is produced by glands on the outside of the lower jaw and is expelled into the mouth along grooves in the teeth and injected by chewing.
The tail of Heloderms is a fat storage organ.
73

Whiptail lizards are slim bodied, long-tailed, active lizards. Many species consist only of females and reproduce via parthenogenesis in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new female individual.
Our local species, however, are not parthenogenic.
Class:
Squamata
74

Desert Iguanas are large bodied lizards with small, rounded heads. They are capable of tolerating body temperatures of 42 °C (108
°F) which is higher than any known vertebrate.
Desert Iguanas can avoid predators because they are active during the hottest periods of the day when most species are unable to cope with the heat .
Class:
Squamata
75

Basilisk Lizards are lizard s found in Central and South America rainforests near rivers and streams.
The basilisk is part of the Corytophanidae family .
It has the nickname the "Jesus
Lizard" because when fleeing from a predator, it runs on top of water for a brief distance.
Basilisks have large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe, it can open up this webbing to increase the surface area on the water relative to its weight, thus allowing it to run on water for short distances.
Class:
Squamata
76

Chameleons are zygodactylic : on each foot the five toes are fused into a group of two and a group of three, giving the foot a tongs -like appearance. These specialized feet allow chameleons to grip tightly to narrow branches.
Chameleons have a long tail that is able to curl up. It is used to balance on tree limbs. Sometimes it is used as a weapon. A chameleon uses its tail almost like a fifth leg . Their eyes are the most distinctive among the reptiles.
Their eyelids are fused. They can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously .
Chameleons have very long tongues
(sometimes longer than their own body length) which they are capable of rapidly extending out of the mouth.
Class:
Squamata
77

This Old World Lizard family can be described as lizards that usually have well-developed, strong legs..
One of the key distinguishing features of the agamids is their teeth, which are borne on the outer rim of the mouth ( acrodont ), rather than on the inner side of the jaws.
(shared with chameleons).
Bearded dragons include spiny scales arranged in rows and clusters. These are found on the throat and back of head. These lizards are often called dragons or dragon lizards. Bearded dragons will expand their scales around their neck when threatened. The species also displays a handwaving gesture, thought to draw an attack from any predator that may be in the area, however this can also be used as a form of communication between the species.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Agamidae
78

Many Chameleons have head or facial ornamentation. They have long tongues and lack ears. Chameleons are didactyl :
(on each foot the five toes are fused into a group of two and a group of three, giving the foot a tongs -like appearance). Their eyes are the most distinctive among the reptiles. The upper and lower eyelids are joined, with only a pinhole large enough for the pupil to see through. They can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously.
Class: Squamata
Family:
Chameleonidae
79

The baskalisk lizards typically have well-developed head crests in the shape of a casque
(a French word for helmet).
These lizards are often called
“Jesus Christ” lizards because they may run on water when threatened.
Class: Squamata
Family:
Corytophanidae
80

The family characters of the iguanids are: a body covered with horny scales, without bony plates or without large square plates on the abdomen ; there is generally a crest along the back or the tail. This family includes
Chuckwallas, Desert
Iguanas, Marine Iguanas and Green Iguanas.
Class: Squamata
Family: Iguanidae
81

Marine Iguanas is an iguana found only on the Galápagos
Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The
Iguana can dive over 30 ft (10 m) into the water. The Green
Iguanas are found in the United
States as feral populations in
South Florida (including the
Florida Keys), Hawaii, and the
Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Class: Squamata
Family: Iguanidae
82

The North American
Spiny lizards are relatively small (most <
10 cm snout-vent length) lizards, and represent a diversity of forms. They range in the number and size of the spines. This family includes: Zebratailed Lizards ( open deserts with spotty vegetation), Western
Fence Lizards ( a variety of habitats – most common local lizard) ,
Side-blotched Lizards
(most common desert species) and Horned
Lizards.
Class: Squamata
Family:
Phrynosomatidae
83

Anole lizards are frequently and incorrectly called American chameleons or geckos, although they are not closely related to either of those groups. In fact, they are more closely related to iguanas. These misconceptions are likely due to their ability to alter their skin color and run up walls. Anoles are small and common lizards that can be found throughout the southeastern
United States, the Caribbean, and various other regions of the
Western world. A large majority of them sport a green coloration.
They are widespread due to the pet trade and eggs in imported plants.
Class: Squamata
Family:
Polychrotidae
84

Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family
Gekkonidae , found in warm climates throughout the world. All geckos, have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean
Class: Squamata
Family:
Geckonidae
85

The Southern alligator lizard is a lizard common throughout Southern
California and can be found in grasslands, chaparral, and forests as well as urban areas. The lizards can frequently be found near human habitation and are notable for their fearless self-defense; they will often bite and defecate if handled.
Class: Squamata
Southern Alligator
Lizard
86

The California Legless
Lizard is a limbless, burrowing lizard often mistaken for a snake. (They have moveable eyelids).
They live in loose, sandy soils or leaf litter, typically in sand dunes along the coast.
Class: Squamata
California Legless
Lizard
87

Class:
Squamata
Long-nosed
Leopard
Lizard
88

Class: Squamata
89

Venomous animals usually inject there toxin via a bite or sting. The toxin from a poisonous animal must generally be ingested.
Snake venom contains a variety of molecules that often fall into two categories: those that are hemotoxic (dissolve tissue) and those that are neurotoxins (block nervous functions).
Southern Pacific rattlesnakes
(like most of the rattlesnakes found in the U.S.) have venom that is primarily hemotoxic.
Mojave Rattlesnakes, however, often have large amounts of neurotoxins in their venom .
Class:
Squamata
90

Rattlesnakes (including the
Southern Pacific, Mojave, and
Sidewinder) have large, hollow, moveable fangs that are located at the front of the upper jaw. In biting, the fangs are swung forward from their folded position of rest and the victim is stabbed and envenomated in a rapid thrust.
Rattlesnakes are capable of controlling their venom expenditure depending on the prey and will inject larger amounts of venom in larger prey.
Despite popular belief, large rattlesnake are more dangerous and inject more venom that an small rattlesnake.
Class:
Squamata
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Rattlesnakes (including the
Southern Pacific, Mojave, and Sidewinder) are all pitvipers. Pit vipers have a distinct loreal pit – a temperature-sensitive structure on each side of the face between the eyes and nostrils, which helps them locate prey.
To the left is an picture generated by a computer to demonstrate how a snake might thermally visualize a rat.
Class:
Squamata
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Cobras and Sea Snakes have short, fixed fangs (unlike the long, folding fangs of pit vipers).
Cobras, sea snakes and their relatives are collectively called
Elapids. The Venom of elapids tends to be the most toxic of all snakes because it often has large amounts of neurotoxins .
The largest of these, the King
Cobra, is the largest venomous snake in the world. Although its venom is not extremely toxic, it injects a large amount of venom with every bite. A typical bite contains enough venom to kill
20 people . King Cobras tend to eat other snakes.
Class:
Squamata
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Class: Squamata
Related to Cobras, the Inland
Taipan Snake is the most venomous of all snakes.
Found in Australia , one bite contains enough venom to kill 100 people. Sea snakes are related to some of the most potent venomous snakes but some have gentle dispositions and bite only when provoked, while others are much more aggressive .
They have paddle-like tail that has increased their swimming ability and to a varying degree, the bodies of many species are laterally compressed.
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The Boidae are a family of non-venomous snakes found in
America, Africa, Europe, Asia and some Pacific Islands.
Nearly all have a relatively rigid lower jaw with a coronoid element, as well as a vestigial pelvic girdle with hind limbs that are partially visible as a pair of spurs . This family includes the Anaconda, African
Rock Python, and the rosy boa.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Boidae
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The Colubridae is a broad classification of snakes that includes about two thirds of all snake species on earth.
Colubrid species are found on every continent, except
Antarctica. They are characterized by highly flexible jaws, a body almost completely covered in scales, generally relatively wide ventral scales and a standard complement of enlarged scales on the head, the lack of any vestiges of the hind limbs, the absence of the coronoid bones of the lower jaws, and commonly the presence of Duvernoy's glands on either side of the head behind the eye.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Colubridae
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Ring-necked snakes are found in open woodlands near rocky hillsides, or in wetter environments with abundant cover or woody debris.
They are are best known for their unique defense posture of curling up their tails exposing their bright redorange posterior, ventral surface when threatened. Common Garter snakes are found from forests, fields, and prairies to streams, wetlands, meadows, marshes, and ponds, and it is often found near water. It is a semi-aquatic animal like most snakes.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Colubridae
97

Coachwhips are thin-bodied snakes with small heads and large eyes with round pupils. They tend to be highstrung, and often bolt at the first sign of a potential threat. They are extremely fast moving snakes. The
Western Shovel-nosed snake is found in loose sandy areas such as washes, dunes, sandy flats and rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation is usually sparse. The underset lower jaw, muscular body, smooth scales, and shovel-shaped nose make this snake very good at “swimming” in the sand.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Colubridae
98

King snakes are also common snakes in our area. King snakes are non-venomous and primarily eat other snakes including rattlesnakes.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Colubridae
99

Gopher snakes are one of the most common snakes in our area. When threatened, it often will hiss loudly and flatten and broaden its head and vibrates its tail. In dry leaves, the vibrating tail tail may sound like a rattlesnake and deter predators.
Gopher snakes, however, are not venomous.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Colubridae
100

The Elapidae family of snakes (known as elapids) includes cobras, Taipans and
Sea Snakes. All elapids are venomous, and some of the most venomous snakes in the world are found within this family.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Elapsidae
101

All viperids have a pair of relatively long hollow fangs that are used to inject venom from glands located towards the rear of the upper jaws. This family includes the rattlesnakes.
(Red Diamond Rattlesnake,
Western Diamondback
Rattlesnake, Speckled
Rattlesnake and the
Western Rattlesnake.
Class:
Squamata
Family:
Viparidae
102

Other Snakes
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Other Snakes
104

Class:
Squamata
Sidewinders have a unique sidewise locomotion in which their body moves in an Sshaped curve. This form of movement is rapid and minimizes slippage on loose soil and it also reduce heat uptake from hot surfaces because of the greatly reduced contact.
Sidewinders also have “horned” scales over their eyes which can be folded down when entering a burrow to protect the eye.
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Other Snakes
106

Class:
Crocodilia
107

Class:
Crocodilia
Alligators tend to have wider, rounded, Ushaped snouts whereas Crocodiles tend to have more a longer, more pointed, V-shaped snout. Also, the fourth tooth on the lower jaw of crocodiles sticks up and over the upper lip so that it can be seen when the crocodiles mouth is closed. In Alligators, this tooth can not be seen when the mouth is closed.
Caimen all have wide, flat heads with rounded noses. Eyeline ridge is slightly more pronounced than in the closely related
American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis .
When mouth is closed, only teeth from upper jaw are visible.
Gavials have very narrow, long pointed snouts.
The largest of the crocodiles is the Saltwater Crocodile found in and around northern Australia. Saltwater
Crocodiles can be as large as 18 feet and weigh 3000 pounds.
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From Top Left
Gavial
Alligator
Crocodile
Caiman
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