Reptiles Growth & Development
Reptiles undergo a cycle of development that is like many other animals. They never stop growing throughout their lives, even as their growth slows when they get older. However, they also generally have everything they need at birth and rarely go through large transformational changes.
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Life Cycle
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Reptiles have very similar life cycles to fish, birds and to a lesser degree mammals. The life cycle consists of three major stages that transition slowly into the next: before birth; immature young; and mature adult. This last stage is usually the longest of a reptile's life.
Amniotes
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According to the website Biology Online, the amniotic sac is a distinctive sac in which an embryo develops. It first evolved in reptiles when they descended from early amphibians approximately 300 million years ago. The amnion is the membrane of the amniotic sac.
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Before Birth
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Sexual reproduction produces a single-celled organism when egg and sperm unite. The egg develops a hard casing inside the female reptile, which will lay the eggs when they are big enough. This is called oviposition. On the other hand, there are some reptiles like the viper or Solomon Island skink that will give birth to young instead, which is called viviparous. The mother may guard the eggs until they hatch. In most cases, the eggs are deposited in a hole to later hatch there.
Young
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Baby reptiles hatch by cutting through the eggshell with an egg tooth, also called a caruncle. It will remain in the egg 12 to 48 hours after hatching and absorb the remaining yolk, which provided nutrients. Immediately a reptile can begin fending for itself. The immature reptile is usually just a smaller version of the adult.
Adult
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It usually takes several years for a reptile to reach sexual maturity. In the case of some giant tortoises, it can take 20 to 30 years for them to mature. Once a reptile matures, it can begin reproducing. Some reptiles may live for decades. The aforementioned giant tortoise may live for 150 years or longer.
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References
- Photo Credit REPTILE image by sylvie BRELOT-FORMENTO from Fotolia.com
