Tetrapods II - Endotherms

Aves and Mammalia

Ectothermy and Endothermy

Ectotherm an animal that derives its body heat primarily from the environment. Body temperature can vary widely. body temperature can be partially regulated behaviourally, by basking and seeking warm surfaces. the body is not insulated, facilitating heat gain and loss as required. Endotherm an animal that maintains a high body temperature by using metabolic heat and controlling heat loss. Body core temperature varies relatively little. Insulation is important, through feathers, fur, or dermal fat, to conserve body heat.

Relative advantages and disadvantages of endothermy and ectothermy depend on climate and food supply
Ectotherms can only be active at higher temperatures. However, they only need to consume about 10% of the calories needed to maintain an endotherm of the same size. Endotherms can be active at lower temperatures and at night, but have an energetically expensive lifestyle. They must eat a lot to maintain their body temperature. In many cases, they must feed their young high calorie food and keep them warm in nests or burrows. Many adaptations that we see in birds and mammals are in response to endothermy.

But might dinosaurs have been endothermic?

(see the essay in Kardong, p. 115)

Bone Structure. Present day ectotherms show annual growth rings in skeletal structures. Endothermic animals do not, nor do dinosaurs. Geographic Distribution. Reptiles are not found in the north today, particularly large reptiles. Dinosaurs were, even to the latitude of perpetual darkness in winter. Fossil Ecology. Modern ectothermic animals have a higher predator to prey ratio than endotherms. Predatory dinosaurs were rare relative to herbivores. Dinosaur Anatomy. Dinosaurs resemble modern, active, running animals in limb anatomy. Some small dinosaurs had feathers, but were not able to fly.

Evidence to the contrary

no living reptile is endothermic (unless birds are considered to be reptiles). dinosaurs did not have the elaborate nasal bones that allow mammals to conserve heat and moisture when breathing.

Reptiles were incredibly diverse in the Mesozoic (250 mybp to 65 mybp)

Note that this chart does not include the aquatic reptiles and flying reptiles, or the Parareptilia, just the Ornithischia and Saurischia.

KK 3.37

Reptiles were largely replaced by a radiation of birds and mammals since 65 mybp
The boundary between the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras, or Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, marks a major period of change in the earths flora and fauna. It is now widely believed this marks the time when an asteroid struck the earth.

KK 3.41

Features of Class Aves

endothermy feathers bipedal, wings short tail keel-shaped sternum crop, gizzard no teeth (bill made of keratin) unique lungs, air sacs, hollow bones

Are birds dinosaurs?

Kardong, being a cladist, would say so because birds share a common ancestor with reptiles. More conventionally we call Aves a class of its own, making Reptilia paraphyletic.

KK Fig. 3.42

Class Aves
Birds go back about 200 mybp, Archaeopteryx

Different from modern birds

-fingers on wings -teeth

-long tail
-no keel on sternum KK Fig. 1.32 -solid bones

Modern Birds or Neornithes

Paleognathae, large
flightless birds

Emu

Neognathae
Neognathae radiated starting 65 mybp. There are now about 30 orders of Neornithes. Blue Jay

Synapsida
Synapsids are usually considered a subclass of reptiles. But Kardong, again being a purist, follows the rules and keeps them separate.

- early forms

KK Fig 3.43

Synapsids - therapsids
The immediate ancestors of mammals were a kind of synapsid called therapsids.

KK Fig. 3.44, H&G 4.3

Class Mammalia - 200 mybp

Mammalian Characteristics -endothermy -hair -mammary glands -posture (legs under body, rather than sprawling) -dentition (differentiated teeth) -skull (malleus rather than articular bone)

Subclass Monotremes (Prototheria)

Egg-laying mammals with rudimentary mammary glands. Extant examples are found in Australia only.
Platypus

Echidna

Subclass Theria
Mammals that produce live young rather than lay eggs. Metatheria (marsupials)
found mainly in Australia and South America Koala Kangaroo
What is the one North American marsupial?

Metatherian versus Eutherian reproduction

Kangaroo neonate

Infraclass Eutheria or placental mammals

underwent a great expansion 65 mybp, as did metatheria to a lesser extent (why?) ancestral order has long thought to be the Insectivora (presently moles, shrews and hedgehogs), but recent evidence suggests the Edentata (anteaters, sloths, armadillos). largest order is the Rodentia. includes an order of flying mammals (Chiroptera, or bats), two orders of entirely aquatic mammals (Sirenia, Cetacea), and ourselves (Primates). other orders we will mention in the course include Carnivora, Proboscidea, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla.

Mesozoic Continents
Before the mesozoic, there was only a single continent, Pangea. Mammals evolved as it broke up to create the modern continents.

Marsupials originated in North America, invaded Eurasia, South America, Antarctica and Australia. Eutherians originated in Eurasia, and displaced marsupials as they spread through North America and Africa. They invaded South America late, as Central America emerged and joined the continents. They never reached Antarctica and Australia until they were introduced there by humans. One marsupial (the opossum) re-invaded North America from South America and just recently reached Ontario.

KK 3.47