Have you ever wondered what crocodiles, snakes, lizards, sea turtles, and terrapins have in common? They are all part of a special group of animals called reptiles! There are more than 10,000 different kinds of reptiles, making them one of the most diverse groups of animals, right after fish.
Reptiles have bodies covered in scales. These scales can be soft or hard, like the tough plates you see on turtles. Just like us, reptiles need to breathe air. They have lungs to help them take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. Even reptiles that live in water, like crocodiles and sea turtles, need to come up to the surface to breathe.
Most reptiles lay eggs, just like birds do. However, some reptiles, like pit vipers, have a unique way of having babies. They produce eggs that stay inside the mother until they are ready to hatch, and then she gives birth to live young. This is called being ovoviviparous.
Reptiles are ectothermic, which means they rely on the environment to keep their bodies warm. This is why you might see reptiles like lizards basking in the sun. They need the sun’s warmth to stay active and healthy.
Did you know that some reptiles, like the chameleon, can change their skin color? They do this to communicate with other chameleons and to blend in with their surroundings!
Reptiles are amazing creatures with lots of interesting features. Next time you see a reptile, think about all the cool things you now know about them!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Crocodiles, snakes, lizards, sea turtles, and terrapins—what do these fascinating animals have in common? They’re all reptiles. More than 10,000 different species of reptiles have been named and described, making them the most diverse vertebrate group after fish.
Reptiles are animals with bodies covered in scales. In some reptiles, like turtles, the scales are in the form of hard plates. Like mammals and birds, reptiles have lungs to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. In aquatic environments, reptiles like crocodiles, iguanas, sea snakes, and sea turtles need to come to the surface to breathe.
Almost all reptiles reproduce by laying eggs, but some, like pit vipers, are ovoviviparous, which means the females produce eggs that develop inside the female, and she then gives birth to live young.
Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is dependent on the environment. This is why you often see reptiles basking in the sun.
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