Reptiles By: Alicia Hoffman Cameron York

What is a reptile??  Reptiles have been around for 300 million years, and during the age of the dinosaurs, they ruled the Earth. Those days are long gone, and those giants have vanished, but some 6,500 species of reptiles still thrive today. Crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles are all reptiles. Most reptiles live on land, and most lay eggs. They are vertebrates, and, unlike any other animals, are covered in scales. They are cold-blooded, and regulate their body temperature by seeking or avoiding the sun's heat.

Classification  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Subphylum: Vertebrata  Class: Reptilia TYPES Crocodiles Alligators Tuatara Lizards Snakes Amphibians turtles

Species  Crocodilia (crocodiles, gavials, caimans, and alligators): 23 species Crocodiliacrocodilesgavialscaimans alligators Crocodiliacrocodilesgavialscaimans alligators  Sphenodontia (tuatara from New Zealand): 2 species SphenodontiatuataraNew Zealand SphenodontiatuataraNew Zealand  Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenids ("worm-lizards"): approximately 7,900 species Squamatalizardssnakes amphisbaenidsSquamatalizardssnakes amphisbaenids  Testudines (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins): approximately 300 species Testudinesturtlestortoisesterrapins Testudinesturtlestortoisesterrapins

Reproduction  Most reptiles reproduce sexually but some can reproduce Asexually.  All reproductive activity usually occurs in the Cloaca(the single exit/entrance at the base of the tail where waste is also eliminated.)  Most reptiles lay amniotic eggs covered with leathery or calcareous shells  Most reptiles have copultory organs  Asexual reproduction within reptiles has been identified in squamates in 6 families of lizards and one snake.

Nutrition  The jaw structure of a reptile does not permit chewing; they can only tear their food.  Most reptiles are carnivores, and eat whole prey or insects. Some reptiles (adult green iguanas, for example), are herbivores and eat green plants.  Other pet reptiles eat frozen prey for example like mice and rats and other frozen foods.  Reptiles can go without food for long periods. After a snake eats a large meal, it might not feed again for several weeks.  Most snakes swallow their prey alive. However, poisonous snakes generally wait for their venom to kill an animal before they swallow it.

Reptiles Bodies  Reptiles are cold-blooded—that is, their body temperature rarely differs much from the temperature of their surroundings. Reptiles that are active on hot, sunny days cool off by moving to shady spots.  Lizards and snakes have a single sheet of overlapping scales. Other reptiles grow plates (separate areas of scales). The main function of the skin is to keep water in the animal's body. Reptiles can go without water for long periods, and many species thrive in deserts.  Reptiles, like birds, have voluntary control over the muscles in their eyes, which determine their pupil size. This means that they are able to constrict or dilate their pupils at will, not just in response to light.  Reptiles do not have sweat or sebaceous glands; therefore, they are not slimy. They are, however, waterproof.

Habitat  Australia has 840 known species! This is an unusually high number, especially in comparison to North America which is a similar sized land mass, but which supports only 280 reptile species. Not only does Australia have a large variety of reptiles, but approximately 90% of Australia’s reptiles are found nowhere else on earth. Interestingly, Australia is home to the most highly-venomous species of snake in the world and is the only continent on which the deadly snake varieties outweigh the harmless ones. Although less than one third of the world’s snake species are venomous, they make up 65% of Australia’s snakes.  Some of them also live in very wet area's because they love the water for example (crocs, turtles, and frogs)  Some live in very dry areas where they just like to be dry and wait for their prey so they can attack like snakes and lizards are known for in the desert area.

Work cited  Google Image Result for Google Image Search. 17 Mar  "Reptile -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 17 Mar  "Reptile Pictures, Photos, Facts, Information, Profiles, Sounds, Habitats, Reports, News - National Geographic." Animals - Facts, Information, Photos, Pictures, Sounds, Habitats, Reports, News - National Geographic. 17 Mar