Animals - Reptiles

Reptiles:

  • cold-blooded (body temperature changes according to their surroundings)
  • egg-laying; most lay eggs on land.
  • the first vertebrates to live completely on land.
  • skin covered in waterprof scales, which form a layer to keep moisture inside, and help reptiles to survive in hot dry places.
  • hatch fully formed without a larval stage.
  • molting: shed outer layer of skin from time to time.

4 major groups:

  • lizards and snakes
  • turtles and tortoises
  • crocodilians
  • tuataras 喙(Huì)头蜥: wedge-shaped teeth (which set them apart from lizards) The single species of tuatara is the sole surviving member of its order.

Lizards

  • Chuckwalla: large lizards found primarily in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
  • Anole: native to warmer parts of the Americas, ranging from southeastern United States to Paraguay. In most species at least the male has a dewlap, an often brightly colored flap of skin that extends from the throat/neck and is used in displays.
  • Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum, /ˈhiːlə/ HEE-lə) is a species of venomous lizard native to the Southwestern United States and the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. "Gila" refers to the Gila River Basin in the U.S. states of Arizona and New Mexico
  • Geckos (壁虎) are small, mostly carnivorous lizards, found on every continent except Antarctica. Geckos are unique among lizards for their vocalizations.
  • Skinks (石龙子): characterized by their smaller legs in comparison to typical lizards and are mostly found in different habitats except arctic and subarctic regions.
  • A Komodo dragon is a monitor lizard.
  • Chameleons: conelike eyelids with a small opening for the pupil. Can look in two different directions at the same time. (e.g. use one eye to hunt for flying insects and the other to look out for attackers.)
  • iguana: 鬣蜥 the only lizard to dive in th ocean for food

Turtles and Tortoises

  • Turtles: live in oceans or fresh water
  • Tortoises: mostly live on land.

Species:

  • Alligator snapping turtle 鳄龟: the world's largest freshwater turtle.

Crocodilians

Crocodiles, alligators, caimans (凯门鳄), gharials (恒河鳄/长吻鳄).

  • American alligator: can survive in freezing conditions.

Snakes

  • cannot chew so they swallow their prey whole.

Species:

  • boa 蟒蛇
  • cobra 眼镜蛇