Table of Contents
How do you distinguish a reptile?
Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that live on land and have epidermal scales, covering part or the entire surface of the body. The characteristics of animals within reptiles might differ with some reptiles being closer to amphibian while others are closer to birds.
What is the distinguishing physical characteristics of a reptile?
All reptiles have backbones, lay hard or leathery-shelled eggs, have scales or scutes, and they are all ectothermic. We usually think of snakes as reptiles, which they are, but there are more reptiles than just snakes.
What are defining characteristics of reptiles?
Traits of Reptiles and Amphibians
- Reptiles are vertebrates. They have backbones.
- Their bodies are completely covered with scales.
- They are cold-blooded.
- Reptiles produce shelled eggs or bear live young.
- All species fertilize eggs internally.
- All species of reptiles have at least one lung.
What are the defining characteristics of reptiles?
Reptiles
- Reptiles are vertebrates. They have backbones.
- Their bodies are completely covered with scales.
- They are cold-blooded.
- Reptiles produce shelled eggs or bear live young.
- All species fertilize eggs internally.
- All species of reptiles have at least one lung.
How are reptiles different from mammals?
Mammals have hair all over their bodies, while reptiles have scales. Mammals have live births and produce milk for their young, while reptiles lay eggs. Reptiles have only three-chambered hearts, mammals have four. Reptiles will continue growing throughout their lives and continually replace lost teeth.
What makes a reptile different from other reptiles?
Lizards have five toes on both their front and hind limbs while snakes are limbless with hinged jaws. There are 22 species of crocodiles and alligators. They have four-chambered hearts as compared to other reptiles which have only three chambers.
What kind of scales does a reptile have?
Most reptiles have a continuous external covering of epidermal scales. Reptile scales contain a unique type of keratin called beta keratin; the scales and interscalar skin also contain alpha keratin, which is a trait shared with other vertebrates.
What kind of color vision does a reptile have?
Camouflage and warning. Two major groups of reptile predators are birds and other reptiles, both of which have well developed color vision. Thus the skins of many reptiles have cryptic coloration of plain or mottled gray, green, and brown to allow them to blend into the background of their natural environment.
What kind of habitat does a reptile live in?
Lizards are terrestrial and their habitats range from rainforests, deserts, jungles, cities, town, and mountains! They inhabit treetops to underground burrows. Snakes also live in a number of habitats; some snakes are even aquatic! Crocodiles and alligators live in and around swamps in both fresh and saltwater.