A reptile is an Animal from Kingdom Animalia and like all Animals, it is a multicellular organism that lacks cell walls and chlorophyll. But what makes reptiles different from other animals? For starters, they are cold-blooded.
Cold-blooded
Being cold-blooded or ectothermic means reptiles rely on their environment to dictate their internal body temperature. Humans are mammals, so we have built-in bodily functions that help regulate our temperature. If we are hot, we sweat and this condensation helps to cool our bodies. If we are cold, we shiver and the friction of that movement helps to warm us up. Reptiles cannot do these things. If a reptile is cold, it will need to bask in the sunlight to keep it warm. If a reptile is hot, it will need to find shade or submerge its body in water to cool down.
Lay Eggs on Ground
But reptiles aren’t the only animals that are cold-blooded (check out our fish blog). What else makes them so unique? Reptiles are egg layers and unlike a lot of egg layers, they make their nests on the ground. Even if a reptile lives in the water for most of its life, like a sea turtle, it will still come ashore to lay its nest. The temperature of the eggs in the ground also helps decide whether the baby inside is male or female. For sea turtles, colder eggs that are closer to the bottom of the nest are typically male. Warmer eggs that are closer to the top of the nest are typically female.
Scales
Reptiles also have scales. Alligators, snakes, and lizards have scales all over their skin! Turtles have scales on their shells called scutes. Their scales are made of keratin which is a pretty tough material that protects them from the hard ground they sometimes live on. It also helps to keep moisture inside, which is important for hydration.
Want to learn more about reptiles?
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