Scioly.org

Took a test at an Invitational yesterday and for the most part it was Family and or Genus ID and then they asked some vocab questions and such.

ie "what is paedomorphic how does it affect much of the species in this Family?" Keep traits from their youth, Salamanders
"How many chambers does this Family's heart have?" 3 Sirenidae

That kind of thing. So for the most part it is quick IDs and then general questions on the family/genus as a whole normally asking about things unique to the grouping. There was one question on a specific species but it was a Tiebreaker.

Thank you.

But I see that you do have to study for the test, of course, but how much? Should the field guide binder be enough? This is an updated excerpt of it: External Anatomy:
Sharp teeth not to strip off but to detain and hold prey
Can replace teeth up to 50 times
Crocodiles are polyphyodonts; they are able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in their 35- to 75-year lifespan. Next to each full-grown tooth, there is a small replacement tooth and an odontogenic stem cell in the dental lamina in standby that can be activated if required.
Crocodiles can hear well; their tympanic membranes are concealed by flat flaps that may be raised or lowered by muscles.

Internal Anatomy:
Four-chambered heart
Nocturnal vision
Great senses (smell, vision, hearing)
TOUCH
DPR = domed pressure receptors
Caudal - upper and lower jaws covered with sensory pits (small, black speckles on skin). Pigmented nodules encase nerve fibers underneath, innervated by the branches of the trigeminal nerve. They respond to the slightest disturbance in surface water (vibrations, pressure). Known as DPRs.
Post-Caudal - DPRs occur in almost every scale in a crocodile, contrasting from an alligator or a caiman. Still not clear what the function of the organs on the rest of the body is.


What should I study? Are the handouts on the SOINC.org page enough? Even though I the field guide binder, should I still study some of the facts in it? Thank you! I just want to summarize how much time I need to devote to the binder and how much to actually studying.

Has anyone found a good website for brahminy blind snake? I can't find the geographic range in the US.

matematika wrote:Thank you.

What should I study? Are the handouts on the SOINC.org page enough? Even though I the field guide binder, should I still study some of the facts in it? Thank you! I just want to summarize how much time I need to devote to the binder and how much to actually studying.

Well first off study the specimens so that you can identify basically all of them 99% of the time, if you cant ID them it doesn't matter how good your binder is it doesn't help. Next make your binder, it should have a fact sheet on each organism specified on the list (this would have locations, diet, anatomy, medical uses, behavior, reproductive, male vs female, fun facts, state reptile?, any big subspecies?). This way you can ID the specimens right off the bat and then flip to their fact page and there is all the info you need on that page.

Further making the binder is one of the best forms of studying as you have to read and write down the facts on the specimens. This means even if you cant remember a specific fact you still have a mental association of "oh this sounds like something I saw about Geckos". I personally spent countless hours on my notes and it paid off for me (got 1st in invitational this weekend).

Good luck! if you need help feel free to pm me.

Froggie wrote:Has anyone found a good website for brahminy blind snake? I can't find the geographic range in the US.

http://loyno.edu/lucec/natural-history- ... enogenetic

Florida and Louisiana mostly, basically Gulf Coast area.

Kyanite wrote:

Froggie wrote:Has anyone found a good website for brahminy blind snake? I can't find the geographic range in the US.

http://loyno.edu/lucec/natural-history- ... enogenetic

Florida and Louisiana mostly, basically Gulf Coast area.

This looks great. Thanks!

Thank you for your advice

What is the difference between box, pond/marsh, musk/mud, sea, soft-shelled turtles, and tortoises? I thought that there might be an important difference. Is there? Do I need to know?

Thank you! - matematika

matematika wrote:Thank you for your advice

What is the difference between box, pond/marsh, musk/mud, sea, soft-shelled turtles, and tortoises? I thought that there might be an important difference. Is there? Do I need to know?

Thank you! - matematika

I haven't studied much for the event yet so someone correct me if I'm wrong.. Tortoises live on land, soft shelled tortoises have very distant head (the nose) and their shells are leathery and flat, and box turtles I think are very distinct (stare at a bunch of pictures).

matematika wrote:Thank you for your advice

What is the difference between box, pond/marsh, musk/mud, sea, soft-shelled turtles, and tortoises? I thought that there might be an important difference. Is there? Do I need to know?

Thank you! - matematika

Box turtles are able to hide within their shell due while most tortoises cannot. This makes the box turtle's shell come almost flush to their necks while tortoises will often have a gap between their neck and their shell. Sea turtles are distinct as their have flippers for limbs and also a very streamline look. Pond and Marsh turtles encompass such a wide range of traits you cant completely ID them as in this category you have to go for traits that are key to specific genus's. Soft shelled turtles will have a long trunk line nose and a generally "squishy' appearance to them. Musk turtles vs mud turtles I cant remember right now and do not have my notes with me, I believe there is a difference in the number of scutes on their back.

Ok so I was studying stuff about bull snakes and some sites say that it is a subspecies of the gopher snake but others say it is the same thing as a gopher and pine snake. I know some sites are not reliable but I was just wondering.