How many occipital condyles are present in the skull of reptiles?

Options

A. Nil
B. One
C. Two
D. Four

Answer

To answer the question of how many occipital condyles are present in the skull of reptiles, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Occipital Condyles**:
- Occipital condyles are rounded protuberances located at the base of the skull. They are part of the occipital bone and play a crucial role in the articulation of the skull with the vertebral column.

2. **Function of Occipital Condyles**:
- The primary function of the occipital condyles is to articulate with the first cervical vertebra, known as the atlas. This articulation allows for the nodding motion of the head.

3. **Classification of Vertebrates**:
- Vertebrates are classified into several groups, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Each group may have a different number of occipital condyles.

4. **Types of Skull Structures**:
- Vertebrates can have either a monocondylic skull (with one occipital condyle) or a dicondylic skull (with two occipital condyles).
- For example, humans have a dicondylic skull, while birds and reptiles have a monocondylic skull.

5. **Specifics for Reptiles**:
- Reptiles, being part of the vertebrate group, possess a monocondylic skull. This means they have only one occipital condyle.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of occipital condyles present in the skull of reptiles is **one**.

### Final Answer:
The skull of reptiles has **one occipital condyle**.

---