Aa

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. Their bodies

are covered in dry, hard, and scaly skin.

Bb

Cold-blooded means they rely on the temperature of the environment to warm up, or cool down their bodies, like this sunbathing alligator.

Cc

The main categories of reptiles are snakes, crocodiles and alligators, turtles, and lizards.

Dd

Snakes are legless reptiles that move by using their muscles and scales. They can be found in deserts, forests, oceans, streams, and lakes.

Ee

Snakes don’t have eyelids, and their jaws are not fused together which allows them to swallow meals much larger than their heads. Imagine fitting an entire watermelon in your mouth!

Ff

Some snakes have fangs which they use to inject poison into their prey.

Fangs

Gg

The poison is stored in a venom gland in the head. Venomous snakes are popular, but most snakes in the world are non-venomous.

venom gland

Hh

Some snakes such as pythons, rattlesnakes, and copperheads can sense body heat, which makes it easy to hunt at night.

Ii

Crocodiles and alligators are the largest reptiles in the world. Alligators are indigenous to the United States and China, whereas crocodiles can be found in Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia.

Jj

These reptiles have very powerful jaw muscles. As a matter of fact, crocodiles have the most powerful bite of any animal in the world.

Kk

Alligators and crocodiles have keen senses. The eyes, nose and ears are high up on the top of the skull, so they can be almost completely submerged, yet still hear, see and breathe.

nostrils

eyes

ears

Ll

Alligators have wide, broad noses, and are darker in color. Crocodiles have narrow, more pointed noses, and are lighter in color. Crocodile teeth also interlock when the mouth is closed.

Mm

Crocodiles are better adapted to live in marine habitats. This means they can survive in saltwater. Alligators prefer freshwater marshes and lakes.

Nn

Turtles belong to the oldest reptile group in the world. They have a bony shell which acts as a shield and most turtles can retract their necks and limbs into the shell for protection.

Oo

Some turtles are carnivores, some are herbivores, and some are omnivores. Many baby turtles start life as carnivores, but switch to eating more plants as they get older.

Pp

The dome of the turtle’s shell is called the carapace, and the bottom part is called the plastron.

carapace

plastron

Qq

Turtles have a reputation for being slow, but they can move surprisingly quick in water. Some sea turtles have been recorded swimming at a speed of 22 miles per hour.

Rr

The largest turtle ever recorded was a leatherback turtle reaching nearly 9 feet in length and weighing over 2000 pounds.

Ss

The outer part of a turtle's shell is made up of plates that are joined together in unique patterns. These plates are called scutes. Scutes are part of the turtle's skin so they are always growing.

Tt

Lizards are the most diverse group of reptiles. They include animals such as iguanas, geckos, skinks and more. They are found around the world, especially in warm and tropical climates.

Uu

Lizards usually have four legs, long bodies, tails, eyelids and external ears. Many lizards are arboreal or live in underground tunnels they dig. A few live in and around water.

Vv

While most lizards are harmless to humans, there are a few aggressive and venomous lizards. These include the Mexican beaded lizard, the Gila monster, and the Komodo dragon.

Ww

The Komodo dragon is the largest species of lizard, with the ability to grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 200 pounds.