Free Biology notes-Biology notes with diagrams and practicals

                                    Chameleon  #Comments:-  Habit and Habitat=> Chameleon have adapted to a large variety of ecosystems. They can be found in tropical rainforests, savannas, and even deserts. The majority of Chameleon species live in trees, but a few species live on the ground too. Chameleons are best known for their ability to camouflage by changing their body color. They are acrodonts i.e. their teeth are attached to the edge of the jaw. They have a pair of eyes, which can move independently. A group of atrophied venom glands is present which produce harmless and trace amounts of venom. The tongue is long and is kept in rolled manner inside the mouth which can go into a projectile as soon as a prey comes in its range. They have prehensile (capable of grasping) tails that can wrap I'm a coil-like manner around limbs to maintain balance. Most species are egg layers.

                                    Trionyx #Comments Habit and Habitat:- Trionyx is widely distributed in India, North America, Africa, Asia, and Malaysia. It is a common fresh-water and pond turtle. Commonly called as tortoise or soft river terrapin. The body of Trionyx is oval-shaped. No horny cover on carapace but a soft leathery shell is present. Head pointed and triangular produced into a beak.  Teeth absent in trionyx. They have webbed feet. They are carnivorous in nature. Head, neck, limbs are retractile. It is oviparous and eggs are laid outside water. Only neck and tail vertebrae is movable.

                              Naja (Cobra) #Comments Habit and Habitat:- Cobra is diurnal, shy, living in holes, under stones, mud walls, and in thick vegetation. It is oviparous, carnivorous, and feeds on frogs, rats, lizards, and other snakes.         Commonly known as Indian cobra/Nag. Body measures 2-3 meters in length and is wheatish (gehuwa) in colour. A most common and deadly poisonous snake. Head small and indistinct. The pupil is round. The neck can dilate into the hood. Hood is supported by ribs. Subcaudals in two rows. It is a smooth-scaled snake with black eyes. Reproduces sexually. They have an excellent sense of smell and night vision. Females are visually larger than males. Naja varies in length

                             Chelone  Comment:-  Habit and Habitat=> Chelone is a marine reptile. They come ashore only to lay eggs. Distributed in Indian, Pacific, Atlantic oceans and feed on algae. Chelone is commonly called as the green turtle. It is a marine, very common, and largest species of sea turtles. The body is covered by a shell, dorsal heart-shaped carapace, and a ventral plastron. Flipper-shaped limbs are present. They have retractile heads and small tails. Eyes with eyelids and nictitating membrane. Jaws are with horny sheath. Economically important as armor is also utilized and flesh is edible turtle soup.

                              Hemidactylus #Comments Habit and Habitat:- Hemidactylus has a worldwide distribution and is chiefly found in India, Europe, Asia, Africa, the USA, China, etc.                                                    Commonly called as house lizard/wall lizard. It is nocturnal in habit. During winter they Hibernate underwoods, logs, and crevices of the walls. They are as fast-runner diapsid. Usually feed on insects and small invertebrates. The body is approximately 25 cm in length. The Head is triangularly containing eyes, nostrils, and external ear opening. Eyes lack movable eyelids. Well-developed forelimbs and hindlimbs. Amphicoecus vertebrae. Lays calcified eggshells. They have a special characteristic, i.e. regenerative tail.

                                   Sphenodon #Comments Habits and Habitats:- Found on relatively inaccessible, islands off the coast of New Zealand. The habitat is cold and damp, with a temperature less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and a humidity level of about 80 percent.                                                     Sphenodon is Commonly called as tuatara. They are grey, olive or red in color. They can measure up to 80cm from head to tail-tip and weigh about 1.3 kg. They have a diapsid skull and lack external ears. The male Sphenodon displays a crest down the back of the neck, and another goes down the middle of the back. They have an acrodont tooth structure. They also possess a " parietal eye " on their head. The tuatara has a slow metabolism, thus lives a long...