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Suppliers of Crickets, Locusts, Mealworm, and more, delivered to your door.
Interesting Facts About Reptiles
Snakes, alligators, and lizards have something in common. They are all reptiles.
And yes, they could bring a shiver down the spine - at a mere mention, in
some people. Reptiles are among the oldest animal species on earth. Read on
to know some facts about them.
The popular image of reptiles can be that of a vicious snake or an aggressive
crocodile. They have existed much before human life began on earth.
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Reptiles are found in every continent except Antarctica.
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Reptiles have existed for more than 300 million years.
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There are more than 8000 reptile species in the world.
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Reptiles are lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles as
well as the lesser-known groups of tuataras and amphisbaenians.
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Reptiles have scales or horny plates that cover their body.
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You will often find reptiles lying in the sun on rocks and
logs.
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They can rarely breath underwater.
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Reptiles are called cold-blooded because they can't regulate
their own body temperature. Their body
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temperature is dependent on the external temperature.
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Most reptiles lay eggs which have leathery shells that are
resistant to drying.
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As compared to mammals and birds, reptiles have neither
fur nor feathers.
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The extinct dinosaurs were reptiles.
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Reptiles fertilize their eggs internally and don’t
use water as a medium in which to lay eggs.
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A majority of reptiles have a three-chambered heart.
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Some reptiles produce live young.
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In most reptile species, the young are independent from
the moment they've hatched.
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The longest snake is the reticulated python and the heaviest
is the anaconda.
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Reptiles do not form a distinct evolutionary group as mammals
and birds do. The Class Reptilia consists of four orders, which are very
different from each other. For instance, lizards are more closely related
to birds than to turtles. Crocodilia refer to crocodiles and alligators.
The order Rhynchocephalia contains only two species known as tuataras, which
are native to New Zealand. Squamata refers to lizards, snakes and other
similar creatures. All turtle species are included in the Testudines order.
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The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard.
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In very hot or dry climates, some reptiles will estivate,
or go into a torpor.
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If a snake is born with two heads, its both heads fight
each other for food.
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Reptiles have waterproof skin. (as do humans).
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A crocodile has an ability to grow new teeth to replace
the old teeth.
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An interesting fact is that a crocodile cannot stick out
its tongue.
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The Egyptians used crocodile dung as the first contraceptive
in human history in 2000 B.C.
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Some snakes such as anaconda and reticulated python can
survive for months before eating.
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The earth is inhabited by at least 250 species of turtles,
25 species of crocodilians, 5,500 species of snakes
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and 3,000 species of lizards.
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Reptiles have more advanced circulatory, respiratory, excretory,
and nervous systems than the amphibians.
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The largest reptile is the saltwater crocodile, which grows
up to 23 feet in length.
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Some snakes are poisonous, or venomous. They have fangs,
which bite into their prey and inject poison into it.
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Once upon a time, snakes had legs and a new discovery has
revealed that at least one had hips, too. The newly discovered snake species,
Najash rionegrina, lived around 90 million years ago in Patagonia, Argentina.
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Lorne Greene had one of his nipples bitten off by an alligator
while he was hosting ‘Lorne Green’s Wild Kingdom’.
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Many giant tortoises (Geochelone) have lived for 120 to
150 years.
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Certain lizards, such as the chameleon, can change colors
to blend into their environment. This camouflages them and gives them protection
from the predators.
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There are more venomous snakes than non-venomous snakes
in the Australian continent.
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The basilisk lizards can run across the surface of water
without sinking.
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Most snake species can dislocate their jaw, allowing them
to swallow prey much larger than themselves.
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Snakes don't have limbs. They move by slithering along the
ground. (We bet you didn't know that!).
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Most reptiles are carnivorous and eat insects, other reptiles,
and small animals.
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A few reptiles are herbivorous, eating plants.
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Interestingly, turtles were present on earth before the
dinosaurs.
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Although reptiles breathe through lungs, certain reptiles
can also absorb oxygen in water through membranes in their mouth.
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Amazingly, the distance between an alligator’s eyes,
in inches, is directly proportional to the length of the alligator in feet.
