structures secreting parathormone, used in calcium
photosensory organ connected to the pineal body,
active in triggering hormone production (including
reproduction) and thermoregulation; sensitive to
changes in light and dark, it does not form images,
having only a rudimentary retina and lens; visible
as an opalescent gray spot on the top of some lizard's
heads; also referred to as "pineal eye"
or "third eye".
who reproduce without males, producing primarily or
only female offspring (daughters). Common in several
day/night cycle of light/dark. Depending on the context
in which this term is used, it may refers to just
the daylight period (see also photoperiod).
breaking open of an egg shell by the hatchling inside.
Most hatchlings are equipped with an "egg tooth,"
a sharp protruberance on their mouth, used to pierce
and cut a tear in the shell.
animal whose temperature varies with that of its environment,
excluding birds and mammals. ("Cold-blooded")
bottom park of a turtle or tortoise shell.
to the kidneys.
to the rostrum - the nose and area surrounding the
nostrils and front of the top lip.
and crevice dweller.
dark period during of 24 hour period of light and
dark (see also photoperiod).
singular: seta. The tiny hair-like projections
on some the toe pads of some gecko species that enable
them to climb smooth vertical surface, even walk across
ceilings. Each seta is tipped with hundreds of spatulate
projections. There are theories
about how exactly they work.
on land but spends some or much time in water.
STL) The measurement of an animal from nose to the
end tip of the tail.
SVL) The measurement of an animal from nose to the
ranking below a genus or subgenus, related organisms
capable of interbreeding. Singular: one such
type of organism.
below species, used for organisms related at the species
level but who show distinct differences, other than
color/pattern, from other species or subspecies in
remnant of the hind limb, visible as a small claw
on either side of the vent, on boas and pythons. On
some torotises, an enlarged scale projecting out from
the legs, generally the inside of the hind legs.
beneath the skin (as in SQ, subq, subcutaneous fluids).