Reptiles and Amphibians

A Presentation From:

Reptiles

There are 6,800 reptile species on earth.

The major reptile groups are: Alligators and Crocodiles Turtles and Tortoises Snakes Lizards

Reptiles are Vertebrates

They have an internal skeleton with a backbone.

Reptiles Have Dry, Scaly Skin

Reptiles have tough, dry, scaly skin made of keratin (what fingernails are made of) that protects them from drying out. The large scales of turtles, tortoises, and crocodilians are called scutes.

Reptiles shed their skin to grow bigger. Snakes shed their skin all in one piece, turning it inside out as they shed. The skin is left in one piece and looks like a tube. An adult snake will shed two to five times a year. A young snake will shed more often as it grows faster.
Corn Snake shedding its skin

Most lizards shed their skin in pieces. That often begins with the skin splitting down the lizards back. A rapidly growing lizard might shed every two weeks. Legless lizards shed their skins like a snake.
Green Anole lizard eating its shed skin Leopard Gecko shedding its skin

Crocodiles and alligators have large scales (scutes), which are shed individually .
Scutes on a live Alligator Alligator Scute Fossils

A turtles skin is shed like a lizards. The hard shells of most turtles are not shed. Instead new layers are added to the underside of their shells. The age of the turtle can be determined by the number of rings on its shells scutes.

Turtle Scutes

Reptiles are Ectothermic

Most reptiles are ectothermic - they use their environment to warm and cool their bodies. If they are cold, they must lay in the sun to raise their body temperature. If they get too hot, they must find shade to cool off. Many reptiles are active at night, so they can avoid becoming too hot and having their skin dry out.

Snake Lizard in egg Turtle

Reptiles Lay Eggs

Reptiles produce tough, leathery shelled eggs that keep moisture and warmth in and predators out. Most reptiles lay their eggs in a place where they will be kept warm and humid. Some reptiles keep their eggs inside their bodies and then give birth to live young. Most reptiles lay their eggs and then leave them.

Reptile Babies Look Like Little Adults

Reptiles possess most of their adult characteristics at the time of hatching. Unlike most amphibians, they do not undergo a larval stage or experience metamorphosis.

Lizards
There are over 4,675 lizards species in six families:

Geckos

Iguanas

Monitors

Chameleons

Gila Monsters

Skinks

Amphibians

There are about 4,000 species of amphibians.

The major amphibian groups are:
1. Frogs and Toads

2. Salamanders

3. Caecilians (she-SILL-yens)
(a legless, salamander-type animal)

Amphibians are Vertebrates

They have an internal skeleton and a backbone.

Bull Frog Skeleton

Toad Skeleton

Amphibians are Ectothermic

Amphibians are ectothermic - they use their environment to warm and cool their bodies. If they are cold, they must lay in the sun to raise their body temperature. If they get too hot, they must find shade to cool off. Many amphibians are active at night, so they can avoid becoming too hot and having their skin dry out.

Couchs Spadefoot Toad Tiger Salamander

Green Frog

Amphibians Have Special Skin

Amphibians have thin, permeable skin. This means the skin lets water pass into their bodies easily. Many amphibians dont need to drink water. Animals that dont live near the water absorb enough water from the moist soil they live in. Their thin skin also allows them to absorb oxygen. This is helpful for the animal because they have small lungs.

Bull Frog

Tiger Salamander

Amphibians Shed their Skin

Frogs, toads, and salamanders have thin skins that they shed regularly. They shed their skin in one piece. Once the skin is shed, they eat it!

Amphibians Lay Their Eggs in Water

Amphibian eggs dont have shells. Instead they are protected by a clear, jellylike substance and must be kept it water or in wet conditions.

Amphibians Go Through Metamorphosis

Young amphibians do not look like they will when they are adults. Amphibian means "double life" in Greek. Most amphibians start life in the water and then, through metamorphosis, develop into adults that live mostly on land. During metamorphosis the animals bodies will have many changes.

Metamorphosis of a Frog

Adult frogs with spawn (jellylike eggs)

Embryos beginning to split in two Tadpoles still in spawn

The younger tadpoles still have their gills. The older tadpoles have lost their gills and are breathing with lungs.

The back legs have grown a little.

The back legs are just starting to develop.

The back legs are developed.

This froglet is now 8 weeks old. It still has its tail, but it looks almost like an adult. The front legs are now present.

Salamander Metamorphosis

Salamanders in eggs.

Salamander with gills. Their heads are not as large as a frog tadpole.

Salamander with gills. The front legs develop first.

This adult salamander is now able to live on the land. Salamanders like to stay under moist leaves and rocks.

What were they?

Alligators? Frogs?

Lizards?
Salamanders? Snakes? Turtles?

Prehistoric

This alligator lived in Colorado about 50 million years ago.

Today

This alligator from Florida grew to be about 20 ft. in length.

Today, the American Alligator grows to be 8 to 13 ft. long and weighs just over 1,000 pounds.

What was it?

Alligator?
Frog? Lizard?

Salamander?
Snake? Turtle?