When did Carl Linnaeus publish Systema Naturæ and how did he classify reptiles?
Carl Linnaeus published Systema Naturæ in the 18th century. He grouped all reptiles and amphibians together under class Amphibia.
Questions about Reptile
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the earliest known member of the reptile lineage and when did it appear?
The earliest known members of the reptile lineage appeared during the late Carboniferous period about 310 million years ago. Hylonomus is historically regarded as the oldest known reptile with footprints from Nova Scotia dated to roughly 315 million years ago.
How do modern non-avian reptiles regulate their body temperature and what are their optimal ranges?
Modern non-avian reptiles exhibit cold-bloodedness relying on external sources of heat to maintain body temperature. For many lizards the optimum body temperature falls in the range of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius while extreme heat-adapted species like the American desert iguana can have optimal physiological temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Which reptiles possess four-chambered hearts and how does this compare to other groups?
Crocodilians have anatomically four-chambered hearts similar to birds but also carry two systemic aortas. Some squamate species like pythons and monitor lizards develop functionally four-chambered hearts during contraction while all lepidosaurs and turtles possess three-chambered hearts with two atria and one variably partitioned ventricle.
What cultural roles did snakes play in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece?
In Egyptian history the Nile cobra adorned the crown of pharaohs worshipped as one of the gods. In Greek mythology snakes are associated with deadly antagonists serving as chthonic symbols roughly translated as earthbound where Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters defeated by Perseus who gave her head to Athena fixed upon her shield called the Aegis.
How is snake venom used in modern medicine and what specific drugs derive from it?
Cytotoxic effects of snake venom are researched as potential treatments for cancers today. Gila monsters produce compounds reducing plasma glucose now used in anti-diabetes drug exenatide marketed under brand name Byetta.