Reptiles: A Behind the Scene File
by: Hudson, Katie & Nicole
http://www.coloringpages.cc/print/crocodile.php?id=6
This is a picture of a crocodile. A crocodile is a reptile species.
A reptile is more than a creature that lay eggs and eat people in the movies. Reptiles are vertebrates because they have backbones, but an invertebrate is a creature that has no backbone. Reptiles are lizards, crocodiles, alligators, snakes, turtles, dinosaurs, etc. The reptiles are classified as Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, and Class: Reptilia. A reptile is a creature that is cold-blooded. These creatures can not control their temperature. Reptiles need to be in the sun if they are cold and be in the shade when they are hot. A reptile also has to lay eggs, and their skin is covered in scales.
http://courses.washington.edu/chordate/453photos/skeleton_photos/alligator_dorsal_skeleton.jpg
Skeleton Structure of an Alligator Showing Its Backbone
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/userfiles/image/variants_large_4809.jpg
Skeletal Structure of a Snake Showing Its Backbone
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Crocodile/ |
Lizard |
Snake |
Turtle |
Extinct Forms |
Alligator |
Order |
Order |
Order |
(Dinosaur,etc.) |
Order |
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Order |
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/TM/WS_lizard_4.shtml
Reptile Classification Chart
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/zo150/mozley/fall/crocanatomy.jpg
This crocodile shows a backbone going from his head all the way down to his tail.
http://www.ssnakes.com/ssnakes_gallery.html
This snake lays eggs and protects them from predators.
Most reptiles are carnivorous. Reptiles do not eat humans and will rarely attack humans. Reptiles will rarely attack humans. The reptiles will only attack if they feel threatened. Reptiles are ectothermic. This means that they acquire their body heat from an external source. Many reptiles molt because they can't grow inside their scaly skin. Molting makes the skin soft, and flexible. Reptiles have water-tight skin enriched with a waterproofing protein called Keratin. Most reptiles lay eggs, but some such as the Boa Constrictor give birth to live young.
Order: Turtles
Turtles have large shells to shelter them, and protect themselves from predators such as, big fish, sharks, crabs, birds, and unfortunately humans. Instead of teeth, turtles have horny edges that lay on their jaw. Turtles range in size from the 4-inch Bog Turtle to the 1500 pound Leathery Turtle. The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together. Turtles have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Hearing and sense of touch are both good and even the shell contains nerves.
http://seedmagazine.com/images/uploads/turtle_article.jpg
This turtle is a reptile and has a shell to protect it from any danger.
Order: Lizards
There are about 3,000 species of lizards. Though most lizards have four legs, some have only two and some are even legless. Depending on the species, lizards range from a few inches in length to more than 10 feet in length.
Some lizards have tongues that are longer than their entire bodies. They smell by tasting the air. They also have a tail and rough, scaly skin. These animals enjoy living in hot, humid, dry environments such as deserts. Very few can tolerate or survive living in a cold environment. Snakes have long, narrow bodies. They have no arms and no legs. They have what looks to be as one large narrow stomach. Very much like lizards snakes enjoy living in humid environments. They also enjoy a place with large boulders so that they can either hide from predators, or sneak up on pray. All snakes are carnivores. They will eat anything that catches their eye or gets in there way that is smaller than them.
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Reptiles/Usa/Nevada/ValleyOfFire/HornedLizard.jpg
This is a green boa constricter that likes to live in the forest and this is a lizard that lives in the desert
Order: Snakes
Snakes have long, narrow bodies. They have no arms and no legs. They have what looks to be as one large narrow stomach. Very much like lizards snakes enjoy living in humid environments. They also enjoy a place with large boulders so that they can either hide from predators, or sneak up on pray. All snakes are carnivores. They will eat anything that catches their eye or gets in there way that is smaller than them. Snakes do not have eyelids instead they have a clear scale to protect their eyese. They do not have ears. As a general rule, female snakes are larger than male snakes. Some snakes are born fully formed, while others hatch from eggs. Snakes can travel 3 - 5 miles an hour.
http://www.graphicshunt.com/wallpapers/images/green_snake-107.htm
This is a green boa constricter that likes to live in the forest.
Order: Crocodiles/Alligators
Crocodiles and Alligators are among the largest group of reptiles living today. These animals are closely related to dinosaurs and are the closest relative to birds out of every type of reptile. Crocodiles and alligators usually travel in large groups known as, Crocolilias. Believe it or not their brains are very complex therefore they are very wise socially. Much like many other reptiles these animals like to live in warm and humid environments. They also love living in murky water such as swamps. They prefer wet, marshy, moist land over dry, sandy land. Alligators' have the ability to survive without eating for two or three years. They are protective and caring of their young.
http://www.animaldanger.com/images/crocodile.jpg
This is a crocodile that is in captivity.
Reproduction
The majority of reptiles lay eggs, very few give birth to live young. For the reptiles that lay eggs, many of them lay their eggs in water. Around their embryo is an "amnion" being created. The space between the embryo and the amnion is filled with amniotic fluid.
http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/1116/34-19-AmnioticEgg-L.gif
Reptile Egg Structure
Fun Facts
The study of reptiles is called herpetology. Reptiles have been around for nearly 300 million years. The most common reptiles include alligators, crocodiles, lizards, tortoises, and turtles. The majority of reptiles live on land and in the water. The reason for this is because reptiles spend numerous hours in the sun each day. After a while there skin will start to burn, therefore, they need the water to cool them off. Reptiles breathe through their lungs, but some can also absorb oxygen in water through membranes in their mouth. Reptiles are often cold blooded because they can't regulate their own body temperature. These animals rely on external temperatures. Reptiles are found on every single continent except for Antarctica. There are over 8,000 species of reptiles living in the world today. There are 250 species of turtles, 25 species of crocodiles, 5,500 species of snakes and 3,000 species of lizards. From the moment reptiles hatch, they are independent. Reptiles have a more advanced circulatory, respiratory, excretory, and nervous system than amphibians. Though the majority of reptiles live on both land and water, none of them can breathe under water. The largest living reptile is the saltwater crocodile which can grow up to 23 ft long and can weigh up to 1,000 kg.
Questions:
1. Are reptiles vertebrates or invertebrates?
2. Are reptiles vegetarians or carnivores?
3. What is the meaning of ectothermic?
4. What is the waterproofing material that is found on reptiles called?
5. What is the range of average weight for a turtle?
6. How many years have reptiles been around for?
7. How many snake species are there?
8. How many crocodile species are there?
9. What is the study of reptiles called?
Sources:
1. Mr. Joanides' slide show
2. http://www.wildanimalsonline.com/reptiles/
3. http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/animals/reptiles.htm
4. http://www.buzzle.com/artical/facts-about-reptiles.html
5. http://www.animaldanger.com/images/crocodile.jpg
6. http://www.graphicshunt.com/wallpapers/images/green_snake-107.html
7. http://www.richard-seaman.com/Reptiles/Usa/Nevada/ValleyOfFire/HornedLizard.jpg
8. http://seedmagazine.com/images/uploads/turtle_article.jpg
9. http://www.ssnakes.com/ssnakesgallery.html
10. http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/zo150/mozley/fall/crocanatomy.jpg
11. http://www.coloringpages.cc/print/crocodile.php?id=6
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptiles
13. http://kids.yahoo.com/animals/reptiles/4379--American+Crocodile
14. http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptile-fun/reptile-games/snake-game.aspx
15. http://courses.washington.edu/chordate/453photos/skeleton_photos/alligator_dorsal_skeleton.jpg
16. http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/1116/34-19-AmnioticEgg-L.gif
17. http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/TM/WS_lizard_4.shtml
18. www.snakeguard.com/facts.html
19. http://www.life123.com/parenting/pets/lizards/fun-lizard-facts.shtml
20. http://www.crocsite.com/crocsite-articles/alligator-attacks.htm
Links:
This link is for watching a video of http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/reptiles-kids/reptiles-flying-kids.html.
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