1. What are Reptiles?

2. Essential Question:
What are the characteristics of Reptiles?

3. Reptiles are wonderfully diverse in size, shape, color, and lifestyle.

4. Reptiles have a long history; they have lived on Earth for over 300 million years.

5. The class Reptilia includes turtles, crocodilians, lizards and snakes.

6. Dinosaurs were reptiles, though they are now extinct.

7. So what makes a reptile a reptile?

8. 1. Reptiles are vertebrates -- they have an internal skeleton with a backbone.

9. 2. Reptiles are tetrapods -- they have four legs.

10. Or their ancestors had four legs.

11. (Even snakes, whose legs have been lost, are tetrapods.)

12. 3. Reptiles lay eggs with waterproof shells.

13. 4. Reptiles have scaly skin that protects them from drying out,

14. 5. Reptiles have toes with claws.

15. 6. Most reptiles are ectotherms or cold-blooded.

16. They use their environment to warm and cool their bodies.

17. And will hibernate if it becomes cold for a long time.

18. So now that you are a reptile expert…

19. Let’s see if you know a reptile when you see one.

20. Reptile?
Yes! This is an Australian frilled neck lizard.

21. Reptile?
Yes! An Australian broad-headed snake.

22. Reptile?
No way! This is a red kangaroo, a mammal native to Australia. Notice the fur?

23. Reptile?
Yes! He is a dome back giant tortoise native to the Galapagos Islands

24. Reptile?
Nope. Notice the feathers? This is an emu, a large, flightless bird native to Australia.

25. Reptile?
No! this is a green tree frog, native to Australia. No claws! No scaly skin! NOT a reptile!

26. Reptile?
No again. This is hida salamander, native to Japan. Again, no claws and no scaly skin.

27. Reptile?
Yes! The Komodo dragon is native to the Indonesian islands of Komodo.