Amniote Classification

Question 1

Q: What are fenestrae, and why are they important in classifying amniotes?

Answer 1

A: Fenestrae are additional openings in the skull for large muscles, used to classify amniotes into anapsids, synapsids, and diapsids.

Question 2

Q: What defines anapsids, and what is a modern example?

Answer 2

A: Anapsids lack fenestrae; modern turtles are an example.

Question 3

Q: What defines synapsids, and what is a famous example?

Answer 3

A: Synapsids have one fenestra on each lateral side of the skull; Dimetrodon is a famous example.

Question 4

Q: What defines diapsids, and what is a defining feature?

Answer 4

A: Diapsids have two sets of fenestrae: one lateral and one on the top of the skull.