LIFE SCIENCE 10-5 What are reptiles?

Pg 1
OBJ: Explain how reptiles are adapted to life on land.
Describe the four orders of reptiles.

I. Life on Land - reptiles were the first true land animals.

- reptiles do not need water for reproduction.
Eggs - they lay their eggs on land.
- reptile eggs are covered in a leathery shell.
- the shell keeps the eggs from drying out.
- young reptiles develop in the eggs.
Lungs - reptiles have lungs throughout their lives.
Skin - they have hard, dry skin covered with scales.
- the skin is waterproof.
- waterproof skin reduces water loss from the
body.

II. Reptiles - reptiles are ectothermic. (cold blooded)

- they have 3 chambered and 4chambered hearts.
- most reptiles have two pairs of legs and clawed feet.
- today there are almost 8,000 species of reptile.

III. Orders of Reptiles - four orders of reptiles

- the tuataras are the smallest order of reptile.
- look like lizards but have spikes on their backs.
- have not changed for over 200 million years.
- sometimes called living fossils.
- Snakes and lizards are the largest order of reptiles.
- shed their skin as they grow.
- live in warm areas.
- snakes do not have legs.
- there are more than 4,500 different kinds of
snakes and lizards.