REPTILES Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class

REPTILES

Kingdom Animalia ---Phylum Chordata ------Subphylum Vertebrata -----Class Reptilia

Characteristics of Reptiles 1. Strong, bony skeletons and feet with claws 2. Ectothermic (cold-blooded) 3. Dry scaley skin 4. Amniote eggs 5. Respiration with lungs 6. Ventricle partially divided 7. Internal fertilization

The Amniote Egg Contains a water and food supply for the developing embryo and can be layed on land. Must be fertilized internally, has a shell

The Amniote Egg

Parts of the Amniote Egg Amnion = watery environment Yolk = food for embryo Allantois = stores waste Chorion = membrane, gas exchange Albumen = egg white, cushion

Types of Reptiles 4 Main Groups (ORDERS) Crocodilia = crocodiles, alligators Testudines = turtles and tortoises Sphenodonta = tuatara Squamata = lizards, snakes ( largest group )

Order Sphenodonta Only found in New Zealand, they have no external ears and a 3 rd eye

Order Testudines

Tortoises usually live on the land, turtles in the water

Snapping turtles can be very aggressive

The top of a turtle's shell is the carapace, the bottom is the plastron Is this a turtle or a tortoise?

Order Crocodilia

Alligators are found mainly in North and South America and only live in freshwater Alligators only show their upper teeth when their mouth is closed, and their snouts are rounder (u-shaped)

Crocodiles can live in fresh or salt water, most are found in Africa, India, and Asia

Crocs have a pointed snout and show both rows of teeth when their mouths are closed.

The Nile Crocodile takes care of its young, a unique trait among reptiles

The gavial is a crocodilian with a long, slender snout

Order Squamata Lizards & Snakes

Komodo Dragon Komodo dragons have bacteria in their mouths that make their bites deadly to prey. Sometimes a dragon will bite a large animal and wait for it to die from an infection.

Gecko

Gila Monster Venomous lizard, found in the southwestern United States

Beaded Lizard This lizard also has venom. It is called a beaded lizard because its scales look like beads.

Horned Lizard The horned lizard has an unusual defense mechanism. It will squirt blood from its eyes to scare away predators.

SNAKES Snakes can be constrictors or venomous to kill prey. All snakes swallow their prey whole. *One day, a baby snake went over to his dad and said “Dad, are we the kind of snakes that are venomous, or are we the constricting kind? ”. The dad replied “Why do you ask, son? ” The baby snake said: “Because I bit my lip. ”

Snakes Have 2 Types of Venom Hemotoxins – affect the blood, causing swelling and internal bleeding Neurotoxins – affect the nervous system, causing paralysis, the heart to stop working or breathing difficulties.

Milk Snake Red next to black, friend of Jack. Red next to yellow, kill a fellow.