Millions of years ago, when the world was warmer, giant reptiles roamed the Earth. Dinosaurs lived on the land, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs swam the oceans and pterosaurs flew about in the air. These animals however, have long since disappeared, but there are still more than 6000 different types of reptiles, roaming the face of the Earth today. .
Reptiles as we know them in present day, can vary in size and are all "cold-blooded" animals. Cold-blooded simply means that in cold weather, they are unable to stay warm and active. This is why most reptiles live in warmer climate regions. They have thick, scaly skins, which stop them from drying out in the sun and usually live in deserts, jungles, rivers and swamps. .
The tortoise is one type of reptile with which we are familiar. They move slowly and pull their heads and legs inside their shells for safety. All tortoises are plant-eaters; spur-thighed tortoises eat grass and leaves a live in warm climates and are often times sold as pets. However, the snapping turtles are meat-eaters who live in rivers and lakes amongst the weeks waiting for fish to pass through.
Another reptile living today is the crocodile. Mother crocodiles guard their nests, which are usually at the water's edge until her eggs hatch, at which point she transports the babies to a safe location where she nurses them. Nile crocodiles are ones who hunt silently for animals grazing along the banks.
Crocodiles and alligators are the biggest, fiercest reptiles alive today though many species are quite rare. They are often hunted for their skins to make accessories such as shoes and handbags. The biggest crocodiles live in rivers and swamps primarily in Asia and Australia. They can often be 20 feet (6 m) in length.
In addition, lizards are considered to be the most well known reptile. There are more species of lizard than any other sort of reptile. Most small lizards eat insects although there are some that eat plants and even meat.
The Mesozoic Era is usually referred to the age of reptiles because this era witnessed dinosaurs on land, sea, and flying reptiles in the skies. ... The evolution of reptiles to mammals varies slightly. ... Reptiles unlike mammals do not have a diaphragm. This causes the reptiles to breathe differently. ... Reptiles have the feature of the amniotic egg. ...
Next which evolved were reptiles and fish. From those reptiles and fish came the amphibians. ... Eventually reptiles began to evolve from the amphibians. ... The first reptiles consisted of ancestors to the crocodile, dinosaurs, birds, and mammal like reptiles first started coming into existence. ... The first reptiles split into two very distinct groups. ...
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians, but there is a lot more to Herpetology than just the studying of the reptiles and amphibians. ... Reptiles, like amphibians, are entirely cold blooded. ... Most reptiles lay eggs, but unlike amphibians, reptile eggs are laid on land. ... There are four major groups of reptiles in the world. ... Snakes are the other half of the reptile family. ...
We define snake as a reptile, and this is its genus or larger group in which it falls in. It's a specific kind of reptile-as the definition points out a lengthy limbless reptile, with no eyelids, a small tail, and a jaw. ... That is how you would differentiate a snake from another reptile. ... Also, we might say "That snake can twist around your arm" that means that the reptile snake can turn and spiral on your arm. ... "Did you see that snake in the grass," refers to a reptile snake in the grass. ...
There are 5 kinds of chordates in the world: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. ... Third, reptiles are the poikilothermal animals that we know. ... Reptiles typically have low-slung bodies with long tails, supported by four short legs that project outward from the sides of the body; however, some reptiles do not limbs. ... Also, Reptiles have the back bone on their back. ... In conclusion, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are the 5 kinds of chordates that we know. ...
Most reptiles feel cold to the touch, while mammals and birds often feel warm. ... Reptiles Although reptiles are considered as ectotherms, they do regulate their own body temperatures to a surprising extent. ... It is usually assumed that reptiles have a body temperature roughly the same as the air around them. but it has been shown that the temperature of reptiles is usually higher than that of the surrounding air. ... The variations are numerous, but the end result is the same v/s some degree of temperature regulation in reptiles. ...
