1. Characteristics of Reptiles

2. Characteristics of Reptiles
Class Reptilia includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, alligators and extinct dinosaurs.
The majority of reptiles are terrestrial and are adapted to a wide range of habitats.
Alligators have a wide U-shaped, rounded snout like a shovel, crocodiles have V-shape. Teeth are wider in alligators and overlap lower jaw
Crocodile or alligator?
Gila monster
Heloderma suspectum

3. Characteristics of Reptiles
Evolved from amphibians about 350 million years ago and dominated the Earth between 245 million and 65 million years ago—the Age of Reptiles (Mesozoic era).

4. Characteristics of Reptiles
Adaptations to terrestrial life include their dry, scaly skin (resistant to water loss and wear and tear) and their amniotic egg (consists of a hard shell and multicellular membranes, which encase the embryo in a secure, self0contained aquatic environment).

5. Characteristics of Reptiles
Are ectothermic. Regulate their body temperature by controlling how much heat they absorb.
Use lungs for respiration and have a circulatory system composed of two loops and a 3-chambered heart, in which one chamber is partially divided.

7. Characteristics of Reptiles
More advanced nervous system than amphibians. Most have a highly-developed sense of smell. Are equipped with a specialized organ sensitive to low concentrations of odors called the Jacobsen’s organ, located in the roof of the mouth.

8. Characteristics of Reptiles
Excrete nitrogenous wastes in the form of uric acid. In the body, uric acid is much less toxic than ammonia or urea. Thus, it requires little water for dilution, and reptiles lose only small amounts of water in their urine.

9. Characteristics of Reptiles
More than 5,000 species of modern reptiles divided into 4 orders:
Order Testudines: turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.
Box turtle is land dweller along with larger galapagos tortoise and terrapin are semi-aqautic in nature and medium sized
Box Turtle:
Geochelone nigra vicina Galapagos tortoise
Diamondback Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin
Terrapene ornata

10. Orders of Reptiles Order Squamata: lizards and snakes.
Anole: Anolis carolinensis
Corn snake: Elaphe guttata

11. Orders of Reptiles Order Crocodilia: crocodiles and alligators.
Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis

12. Orders of Reptiles Order Rhyncocephalia: tuataras Sphenodon punctatus
Coast of New Zealand about 40 cm or 15 inches
Sphenodon punctatus

13. Stores nitrogenous wastes produced by embryo
Surrounds all membranes and cushions developing embryo
Thin membrane enclosing the fluid in which embryo floats
Encloses the yolk
A fat-rich food supply
Provides protection from damage and evaporation of water from egg
Contains proteins and water needed by embryo