WHAT ARE REPTILES: Reptiles (Reptilia) are a diverse group of vertebrates that includes creatures such as snakes, amphisbaenians, lizards, alligators, caimans, crocodiles, tortoises, turtles, and tuataras. There are approximately 7900 species of reptiles alive today that inhabit a wide range of temperate and tropical habitats including deserts, forests, freshwater wetlands, mangroves and open ocean. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. This means they are unable to regulate their own body temperature like birds and mammals do. Therefore, reptiles must modify their activity and behavior to accommodate changing environmental temperatures. They must seek shelter during excessive heat (to prevent over-heating) and extreme cold (to prevent hypothermia).
But being cold-blooded has its advantages too. It has enabled reptiles to enjoy success in habitats that mammals and birds find challenging. Since reptiles do not need to burn calories to fuel a constant body temperature, they can survive on much less food intake that birds and mammals. For this reason, reptiles are the dominant vertebrate in desert habitats.
There are two characteristics of reptiles that enabled them to colonize terrestrial habitats more extensively than their amphibian ancestors—scales and the ability to lay hard-shelled eggs. Reptiles' scales provide them with a tough, protective layer to their skin. They also help to minimize the loss of body moisture. The scales of a reptile consist of a protein called keratin. Reptile scales are not individual structures, like those of a fish, but are instead a continuous sheet of epidermal tissue.
Hard-shelled eggs provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop and enables reptiles to lay their eggs in dry environments. In contrast, amphibian eggs do not have a hard shell coating and consequently must lay their eggs in or near water.
There are two characteristics of reptiles that enabled them to colonize terrestrial habitats more extensively than their amphibian ancestors—scales and the ability to lay hard-shelled eggs. Reptiles' scales provide them with a tough, protective layer to their skin. They also help to minimize the loss of body moisture. The scales of a reptile consist of a protein called keratin. Reptile scales are not individual structures, like those of a fish, but are instead a continuous sheet of epidermal tissue.
Hard-shelled eggs provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop and enables reptiles to lay their eggs in dry environments. In contrast, amphibian eggs do not have a hard shell coating and consequently must lay their eggs in or near water.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Snake’s scales are made up of something called Keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from.
Mother Pythons will coil themselves around their eggs and make their bodies shiver in order to heat herself up and keep her eggs warm until they hatch.
The biggest snake is the Reticulated Python. It can grow up to 10.05 meters or 33 feet long!
The thickest snake is the Anaconda. The biggest one found measured 111 centimeters or 44 inches around. That's huge!
The Thread snake is the smallest snake. It is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches long) and the size of a toothpick.
Vine snakes are remarkable because they appear to have binocular vision.
Many Zookeepers believe that Cobras are faster learners than other snakes. They are able to tell the difference between their trainer and strangers.
Snake’s scales are made up of something called Keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from.
Mother Pythons will coil themselves around their eggs and make their bodies shiver in order to heat herself up and keep her eggs warm until they hatch.
The biggest snake is the Reticulated Python. It can grow up to 10.05 meters or 33 feet long!
The thickest snake is the Anaconda. The biggest one found measured 111 centimeters or 44 inches around. That's huge!
The Thread snake is the smallest snake. It is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches long) and the size of a toothpick.
Vine snakes are remarkable because they appear to have binocular vision.
Many Zookeepers believe that Cobras are faster learners than other snakes. They are able to tell the difference between their trainer and strangers.
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