Reptiles

If you are a reptile enthusiast, you probably would like to provide a natural-looking habitat for your pet. Although you can buy plastic or resin backgrounds for your reptile tank, commercial ones can…

Many reptiles like to bask in the sunlight during the day, as part of their routine. Just like humans and many other animals, reptiles require vitamin D, which is provided by the sun. Without vitamin…

While both harmful and non-harmful reptiles are prone to sneaking into heavily-mulched areas, they are attracted more to available prey than to the mulch itself. Proper cultural care can decrease the…

Although it may seem like something no one would want to do, culturing -- or growing -- houseflies can be a useful skill for some people. May species of reptiles, amphibians or large insect pets, such…

Many aviation words have their roots in naval terminology. In the early days of aviation, flying machines were termed "craft" or "aircraft." Included in the terminology is the designation for…

The Adirondack Mountains refer to a small mountain range located in northeastern New York State. Although three distinct species of venomous snakes exist in New York, the copperhead and the massasauga…

Classifying amphibians requires a systemic approach. Scientific taxonomy involves classifying species in progressively more closely related groups. These begin with the three domains of life: Eukarya…

New York has three poisonous snakes, or pit adders, that are native to that state. They are the Timber Rattlesnake, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake and the Copperhead. These venomous snakes are…

Butterflies belong to the insect group Lepidoptera, having evolved from moths millions of years ago. North America is home to approximately 750 butterfly species; however there are approximately…

For many people, there is no topic in paleontology more fascinating than that of dinosaurs. These creatures were among the largest beings ever to walk the earth, and were certainly the largest…

The chloroplast is the part of the plant's cell that performs photosynthesis. The chloroplast is the remnant of the cyanobacteria that developed an endosymbiotic relationship with the green plant…

Warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals are a central dichotomy in biology. Warm-blooded animals are able to generate their own body heat, while cold-blooded animals absorb heat from their surroundings.…

The Gekkonidae family of reptiles consists of more than 800 species of geckos. Most geckos live in hot, arid locations or tropical regions, but a few have adapted to cool mountain environments. Geckos…

Plants need light, a form of energy, in order to survive. There are many science projects you can perform to explore the relationship between plants and light. These science projects can help you…

Snakes inhabit most terrains on Earth that are without ice for part of the year. They even live in oceans. Michigan is home to 17 species of snake, though there are approximately 2,400 known varieties…

It's important to know how to identify a poisonous snake, even if you live in a area that is not normally inhabited by them. You don't always need to see a snake to identify it. A snake can also be…

According to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 18 nonvenomous snake varieties are considered native to Pennsylvania. Snakes are carnivorous reptile vertebrates that are poikilothermic, which…

Spotting the bright red flash of a snake's scales as it slithers past is enough to give anyone a fright. Snakes often have bright red or pink colors as a warning to potential predators, including…

Collared lizards, belonging to the Iguanid family, are reptiles found in parts of Arizona, known for their marking about the neck area. Capable of delivering a hard and painful bite when given the…

With a collective 8,000 known species, snakes and lizards make up the largest taxonomic order of reptiles, known as squamata, which dates to the age of the dinosaurs. Snakes and lizards are grouped…

Snakes belong to the Squamata class of reptiles. Their bodies are covered in scales, which they shed periodically, and they are cold-blooded, which means that the environment dictates their body…

Bats are the only mammals that share with birds the gift of flight. So-called "flying" squirrels just glide, but bats can truly fly. But they don't fly exactly like birds. There are significant…

Warm-blooded animals are able to control their bodies' temperatures internally. Small changes in the temperature of their surroundings do not affect their internal body temperatures. Only extreme hot…

With a few exceptions, all reptiles, arachnids, insects, fish and amphibians are cold-blooded, while all mammals and birds are warm-blooded. Warm-blooded animals can live in a greater range of…

Warm-blooded animals form a large category of animal life on the planet, including humans. The term "warm-blooded" refers to those animals with a high and more-or-less constant blood temperature. This…

To anyone who's seen the "Jurassic Park" movies, the similarities between dinosaurs and today's reptiles appear to be pretty obvious. Even the word "dinosaur," which was coined by Sir Richard Owen in…

All animals need to take in oxygen and get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. Small animals do this through the surface of their bodies. However, larger animals rely on specialized organs, such as…

Reptiles are members of the scientific class Reptilia, which encompasses 6,000 species of cold-blooded, vertebrate animals. In modern times, reptiles include varieties that consist of four major…

Many types of snakes have a checkered pattern on their belly. The overlapping scales along a snake's belly are called scutes. The coloration and pattern on the scutes are often used by scientists to…

Snakes are of many shapes, colors and sizes. Some are venomous while others are not. Not every snake that lives in and around ponds and other watery areas of Virginia is dangerous. However, people…

The variable physical face of Texas --- from bayous, piney woods and salt marshes to high blowing prairie, arid basins and rugged mountains --- supports an impressive diversity of snakes. Few are…

Every animal in the world belongs to a scientific classification that details the animal's distinguishing characteristics. A close look at animal classifications can highlight the likenesses and…

Though they seem to make some people uncomfortable, reptiles are fascinating to study. They are a large class of air-breathing animals that include snakes and lizards, turtles and tortoises,…

Amphibians adapted to dry land about 360 million years ago. Amphibians are predators and eat small invertebrates, and they in turn are eaten by fish, reptiles and birds. When they made the transition…

While Denver is usually thought of as a mountainous city, most of the city and its surrounding communities are situated at the base of the nearby Rocky Mountains. The prevailing biome is closer to the…

A mistake identifying a baby snake can have sickening, even fatal, consequences. If you have a picture of the snake, identification is just a matter of contacting your local department of natural…

Most everyone is aware of at least some of the differences between birds and mammals. Whereas birds have feathers, lack teeth and lay eggs, mammals have fur or hair for insulation, possess teeth and…

Amphibian is the common name for members of the scientific class Amphibia, which represents one of the five primary classes of vertebrate animals. Even though Amphibians are actually a class in…

New York harbors 17 native species of snake that range from the high forests of the Adirondack Mountains to the pine-oak woodlands of the Atlantic Coastal Plain on Long Island. Sometimes reviled or…

Many people consider reptiles and amphibians to be in the same creepy and slimy category of creatures. However, these two types of animals come from separate scientific orders, Reptilia and Amphibia,…

High-power, light-emitting diodes are good enough to be efficient, reliable sources of illumination that can last much longer than other light sources. But their efficiency, reliability and lifetime…

Reptiles are members of the Reptilia class in the Animal kingdom. This group of animals includes snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles and alligators and a variety of other scaly animals. While…

Although most of the snakes found in the grassy lands of southeastern Colorado do not inject poison when biting, there are a few that do, and it is always good to know the difference. Though people…

Reptiles have been around for over 300 million years. They are cold-blooded animals, meaning that except for insulation or evaporation, their body temperature is the same as their environment. They…

Reptiles, animals that belong to the class Reptilia, all have skin that is protected by scales or scale-like plates called scutes. Reptiles shed their skin two to four times a year as they grow. This…

Numerous types of amphibians and reptiles live in the San Diego region. The area's proximity to both fresh water from streams and salt water from the Pacific Ocean makes it an ideal spot for many…

Geckos are lizards that live in warm climates. They are largely known for their vocalizations because they make chirping sounds as part of their social interaction. The physiology of the gecko can be…

An important detail on any animal craft, whether it is a reptile or a teddy bear is eyes. There are several eye options for a reptile, some easier to attach than others and some more authentic than…

Some birds not only fly as a method of transportation or migration, they also do everyday things like eating, sleeping and even mating while in the air. The common swift is a species of bird that does…

Reptiles, cold-blooded animals with scales, divide into four main categories: crocodilians, lizards, snakes and testudines, such as turtles and tortoises. Ranging in size from less than an inch to…

Reptiles are a pretty diverse and fascinating species, and include everything from snakes to dragons. The reptile kingdom has provided inspiration for a fair number of game designers, who have come up…

Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction where an offspring is created from a single parent. Many forms of bacteria are able to reproduce without a mate. The ability to reproduce without a mate…

Reptiles are found throughout Virginia, mainly in the forests and wetland areas that cover nearly every part of the state, including along the coast. Common reptiles include a variety of lizards,…

Reptiles are cold-blooded, scaly animals found throughout most of the world. Scientists believe they first evolved about 250 million years ago and eventually gave rise to dinosaurs, birds and mammals…

The climate of Texas is a good one for reptiles, and Texas has a wider variety of snake species than any other state, with a total of 76 species. Most are not venomous. Active herpetology societies…

Mammals and reptiles, two of the five classes of vertebrates, are among the most complex animals on Earth. There are approximately 8,240 species of reptiles, including snakes, turtles and lizards,…

Reptiles evolved from amphibians during the late Carboniferous period, about 320 million years ago. The anapsids were the first to appear and they evolved into turtles and tortoises. They, in turn,…

Some animals--namely reptiles--are "cold-blooded" creatures, while other animals--such as mammals--are "warm-blooded." However, the more accurate word to describe "warm-blooded" animals is…

Reptiles originated in Carboniferous period swamps more than 300 million years ago. In the following Permian period they became the dominant quadruped life form. In the Mesozoic era, known as the Age…

Snakes are legless members of the taxonomic class of animals known as reptiles. New York state is home to 17 snake species of various sizes and colors, the majority of which are harmless to humans.…

The reptiles group was originally thought to consist of turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, alligators and tuataras. But then DNA analysis shed light on the evolutionary history for reptiles. As a…

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife lists 23 types of snakes that are common to the state. Only two, the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake, are venomous. The Division of Fish and…

Reptiles first appeared about 360 million years ago; the earliest reptiles were the ancestors from which birds and mammals evolved. Characteristically "cold-blooded"---a common term for…

Amphibians are the oldest land-dwelling vertebrates and first appeared about 400 million years ago during the Devonian period. The class Amphibia includes frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, efts and…

Learning the four food groups is an essential part of understanding balanced nutrition, and you can make it an exciting activity by incorporating crafts into your lesson plan. Help your students…

Virginia's diverse reptiles include 69 species of lizards, snakes, freshwater or terrestrial turtles and marine turtles, with the highest concentration being found in the far southeastern portion of…

Birthing live young, as opposed to laying eggs, seems to fall almost completely in the domain of mammals. With only two exceptions, the echidna and the platypus, all mammals deliver live births.…

Northern Louisiana is rich in a variety of snakes, many of which are live-bearing and some of which are venomous. Most reptiles lay eggs, as many snakes do, but for various reasons some snakes evolved…

Reptiles are a class of vertebrate animals distinguished by a combination of cold-bloodedness --- the absence of internal means of maintaining body temperature --- and scaly skin. The majority of…

While it's true that almost all mammals give live birth to their offspring, it is rare to find a reptile who gives birth this way. In fact, only three types of snakes, three species of skink, and one…

All reptiles are cold-blooded egg layers that breathe air. They also have 5 digits on their hands and feet, a 3- or 4-chambered heart and scales on their skin. These distinct characteristics place…

The study of reptiles and amphibians is called herpetology. While reptiles and amphibians resemble each other, they have dramatically different characteristics and lives. Arkansas is home to reptiles…

Reptiles, which are clad in scales, shields or plates and have toes bearing claws, live worldwide. Four out of the five classes of reptiles live within Ohio's borders, the only exception being…

Canada has 24 species of snakes, most of which are harmless. Thirteen of these snakes are now endangered either due to deliberate extermination efforts or because of habitat destruction. Snakes in…

Reptiles live in virtually every habitat on the planet, except the polar regions because of the extremely cold temperatures. Millions of years ago, though, areas such as modern-day Victoria in…

Georgia's reptiles range in size from the small, five-lined skink to the much larger American alligator, indicating the diversity of the state's habitats. Mountains, forests and beaches provide homes…

Some amphibians, reptiles, snakes and cartilaginous fish are ovoviviparous. Animals that are ovoviviparous reproduce by hatching their young within their bodies before giving birth. The offspring…

Snakes, crocodiles, lizards and tortoises can be found in vastly different sizes. Determining which reptiles are the biggest depends on whether weight or length is considered; some reptiles may have a…

The link between dinosaurs and birds is a hotly contested issue, as is the whole field of human evolution itself. However, a great deal of scientific evidence suggests that birds are in fact avian…

There are four main groups (called orders) of reptiles: crocodiles, alligators and their relatives (25 species); snakes and lizards (7,000 species); turtles and tortoises (300 species); and…

At first glance, humans and reptiles may appear to share little in common. Humans are warm-blooded and must keep a constant body temperature, while reptiles are cold-blooded and adapt to the…

Arboreal animals spend most of their lives living in trees and bushes. Some species of snake, lizard and gecko are arboreal; they eat, drink and even reproduce in the branches of trees. Many of the…

As of 2009, of the estimated 9,000 species of reptiles known to exist in the world, only 1,672 have been assessed for placement on the Endangered Species Red List. Of those species which have been…

Slimy snakes and fast-running lizards may be the first things to pop into your mind when you think about reptiles. Like humans, a reptile breathes through its lungs and has a sternum that protects its…

Thailand is home to 310 species of reptiles. From rain forests to dry grasslands, Thailand's geography is uniquely suited to support a wide variety of animal and plant life. According to Wild Watch…

Reptiles separated from their water-dwelling ancestors and climbed onto land during the Paleozoic era, over 280 million years ago. When that era gave way to the Mesozoic, following a mass planetary…

Scientists teach that birds evolved from reptiles. The first birds began evolving sometime during the Mesozoic era, from 144 million years to 66 million years ago, according to the PBS science…

The Arabian Peninsula is a strip of land in the Middle East that is bordered by the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The peninsula is divided into the nations of Saudi…

Brazil is well known for its great diversity of wildlife, and the country is home to some of the most unusual and little-known reptiles on the planet. The deep, rich forest allows for plenty of…

Large reptiles can be found anywhere in the world. Many of the largest reptiles are close to extinction, but others are thriving in their home environments as well as in zoos. Some species of…

Texas is home to so many reptiles that it even has a designated state reptile, the Texas horned lizard. Texas is a large state and has many different ecosystems, such as deserts, coastlines, forests…

All reptiles have some characteristics in common, although each species has unique traits that are all their own. Reptiles have lived on earth for more than 300 million years and can be found on every…

Reptiles are a group of vertebrates whose scaly bodies make them distinct from other members of the animal kingdom. Because they are cold-blooded--meaning that they can’t regulate their own…

South America's Amazon rainforest, the drainage basin for the Amazon river and its tributaries, is the world's largest tropical rainforest. It is home to a variety of reptile species, including…

Reptiles and amphibians are both vertebrates with many similar qualities. They belong to different animal classes, and amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. Reptiles…

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world. The drainage basin, which delineates the geographic area generally referred to as the Amazon, spans nine countries and covers approximately 40…

An assortment of reptiles is on the Missouri list of endangered animals, with different types of turtles and snakes unfortunately on this roster. Most of these reptiles have suffered a loss of…

Reptiles (class Reptilia) may not be as cute and cuddly as other members of the animal kingdom, but they occupy an important position in the natural order of the world, they have won places in the…

The sheer size of the state of Texas provides ample opportunity for many different species of reptiles to thrive in a variety of climates, from sub-tropical areas to desert-like regions. The state of…

A good way to ensure that your pet reptile eggs develop and hatch properly is to remove them from the parent's enclosure and transfer them to an incubator. Different species of reptiles have different…

Herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, gets its name from the Greek word "herpeton," which means "crawling." Historically, these two groups have been grouped together under one branch of…

The skin of snakes is covered in scales. Like human fingernails and rhinoceros horns, these scales are made of a strong protein called keratin. Contrary to popular belief, the snake's skin itself is…

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, located along the South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin and Gulf of Thailand, and bordered by Cambodia, Laos and China. Vietnam is an extremely biologically diverse…

The morphology of reptiles is incredibly diverse. Reptiles branched out quickly when they first evolved and produced varied creatures such as turtles, snakes and dinosaurs. Reptile skeletons are…

Incubation is a necessary process in the development of many types of embryos; it refers, simply, to embryos being kept warm, often at a constant temperature. Birds lay on their eggs to keep them warm…

Most species of animal are cold-blooded---or at least are some variation of that phenomenon. Full warm-blooded homeostasis is a recent evolutionary innovation endemic to most mammals and birds. As a…

There are more than 8,000 species of reptiles on the planet as of 2010 and they inhabit every continent except Antarctica. Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates and their history dates back 300…

The Nile, flowing northward over 4,000 miles, is the world's longest river. Counting its tributaries, the Nile passes through nine African countries, ultimately emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.…

Scales are an important adaptation that evolved to help reptiles deal with the challenges of their environments. Most reptiles evolved scales for protection and to prevent dehydration, but there are…

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…

Reptiles are fascinating creatures that have a number of characteristics that separate them from the other animal classes. Keep in mind that no single characteristic makes an organism a reptile. It's…

Reptiles and fish share the common features of being cold-blooded and being vertebrates, but that's about where their similarities end. While reptiles and fish seem to be similar, they are more…

Intertidal regions are land areas that are periodically flooded by salt water during high tides. Animals without a tolerance for salt water cannot survive in this habitat. Many species of intertidal…

Reptiles represent some of the oldest living species on the planet, having existed in many different forms for millions of years. Known for being cold-blooded creatures whose bodies are covered in…

Many types of reptiles have the ability to go beneath the surface of the water. This allows them to seek shelter and to hunt for food in an aquatic environment. In the United States, several species…

Geckos are lizards in the family Gekkonidae. According to the EMBL reptile database, there are almost 1,200 species of geckos in the world. All geckos are small and communicate by chirping or…

Oklahoma is home to 82 species of reptiles, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society's "Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture." One species of alligator can also be found living in the…

Indiana is home to over 55 species of reptiles, including lizards, snakes and turtles. More species of snakes are present in the state than species of lizards and turtles combined. Indiana's…

In 1993, Texas' state legislature made the Texas horned lizard the official state reptile. There certainly was no shortage of reptiles to consider in a state as large as Texas. In addition to this…

Amphibians and reptiles made their first appearance on earth during the Carboniferous period. They have similarities and amphibians and reptiles are often confused with each other. Amphibians begin…

The American alligator may be the species that immediately comes to mind when you think of Florida's native reptiles, but many other reptiles exist in the Sunshine State, including a close cousin. The…

The Oklahoma Historical Society website says that Oklahoma has some 80 types of reptiles within its borders. This exceptionally high number places the state third in the United States in terms of the…

Reptiles are among the most diverse animals on the planet; they can be found in deserts, jungles and in the water. Marine reptiles constitute a large part of the reptile family and have gone through…

Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that belong to the class Reptilia and include snakes, turtles, lizards, alligators and crocodiles as well as extinct creatures like dinosaurs and pterosaurs.…

There are an estimated 6,500 species of reptiles on the planet. Reptiles occupy both water and land. Although they vary greatly in size and appearance, there are several traits that they all share.…

Crocodiles inhabit rivers, lakes and swamps in tropical areas such as Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, Central and South America and even in Florida. These reptiles sometimes grow as large as 20…

Reptiles are a diverse group of animals that consist of about 6,500 species. Reptiles have adapted to many climates and habitats, and can be found on every continent, excluding Antarctica.

Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny geckos to mammoth dinosaurs. Their reproductive methods and behaviors generally differ greatly from mammals, though there are some similarities. Among…

There are three major orders of reptiles: crocodilia, testudines and squamata. There also is an order that only includes two species of tuatara, a creature that closely resembles a lizard.

Much of the theory of continental drift (now referred to as plate tectonics) derives from evidence provided by fossils. Scientists have been collecting parallel evidence across the Pacific Ocean…

Reptiles and amphibians share some characteristics with mammals, but they are mostly different. For instance, all amphibians spend at least part of their life cycle in the water. Reptiles and…

Of the approximately 6,500 types of reptiles on earth, most are harmless. However, some are very dangerous animals capable of killing or severely injuring both other animals and humans.

Reptiles and amphibians are found on every continent except Antarctica, though people often confuse them for one another. Reptilian lizards and amphibian salamanders, for example, may appear to be…

Owning a reptile can be fraught with challenges and responsibilities, the first of which entails creating a living space for the animal. Myriad commercial cages are available, of course, many of them…

Catching reptiles can be tricky. Some reptiles, like frogs and lizards, are easier to catch by hand. On the other hand, catching snakes requires some skill and a bit of courage. There may be times…

Breeding reptiles is not as easy as one, two, three. It requires in-depth knowledge and skills --- but the most important factor is that you must be ready to undertake this task. You must learn the…

Not all reptiles lay eggs, but those that do typically choose loose earth or sand in order to lay their clutch of eggs. For reptiles that have limbs, a nest is generally built, even if it's just a…

Just under 4,000 species of frogs live on this earth. They range in size from a half inch to the largest frog, the Goliath, which is about a foot long and lives in Africa. Frogs are amphibians, not…

Amphibian means "double life." These amazing creatures are at home both on land and underwater. In fact, all amphibians begin life underwater as tiny tadpoles with tails and gills. As they…

Though there are several species of birds in the world that participate in monogamy during breeding seasons, there are also a few that remain with a single mate for their entire adult lives. In…

The deadly gaboon viper of Africa is one of the most beautiful snakes on the planet. It also is a master of staying hidden due to coloration and its slow nature. Due to this, the gaboon viper can…