1. Concept : What is a reptile?
Animal Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Reptilia

2. Critical Attributes
Animal that crawls or moves on its belly or on small short legs
Air-breathing; respiration by lungs
Vertebrates
Body usually covered with scales, shields or bony plates
Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat from the environment
Legs are anchored at the side of the body
Peg-like teeth
Toes have claws

3. Positive Examples

4. Snake Respiration by lungs Well-developed nervous system
Bony endoskeleton

5. Tortoise Protective shell Shell bones covered with broad scales
Legs are anchored at the side of the body

6. Alligator Dry, scaly skin Scales not separate, detachable structures
Blend well with their surroundings

7. Iguana Has a backbone Tough, horny scales
Relies on keen senses to find food and evade predators

8. Negative Attributes Covered with hair or fur Feathered
Winged and able to fly
Scales are separate, detachable structures
Don’t breathe in air
Warm-blooded
Mammary (milk-secreting) glands
Most mammals bear live young
Elaborated teeth
Legs are under the body

9. Negative Examples

10. Fish: non-reptile Scales are separate, detachable structures
Does not breath air

11. Lion: non-reptile
Covered with hair
Warm blooded
Bear live young

12. Koala: non-reptile
Covered with fur
Warm blooded
Elaborate teeth

13. Bird: non-reptile Legs are under the body Feathered
Winged and able to fly
Legs are under the body

14. Reptile or non-reptile?
Decide whether or not each animal in the following photos fits into the category of reptiles.

15. Bird
Feathered
Winged and able to fly

16. Sea Turtle Skin is scale Breathe in air
Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat from the environment

17. Bison Covered with hair Mammary (milk-secreting) glands
Elaborated teeth

18. Snake
Cold-blooded
Does not rely on energy from food to generate body heat
Lay eggs on dry land

19. Giraffe
Covered with hair
Warm-blooded
Give birth to live young

20. Lizard Able to change the color of their skin
Legs are anchored at side of the body

21. Crocodile Dry, scaly skin Scales not separate, detachable structures
Toes have claws

22. Students form into groups
Generate your own examples of positive and negative examples of reptiles. Discuss and present your examples to the class through any of the following:
Graphic Organizer
Writing a short essay
Presentation (computer or poster)