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Revealing Reptiles. Rhonda Hawley, Educator, Developed with funding from the Mathematics & Science Center. Revealing Reptiles. There are four kinds of reptiles: 1) lizards and snakes; 2) crocodiles and alligators; 3) turtles and tortoises; 4) tuataras. . Snakes!.
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Revealing Reptiles Rhonda Hawley, Educator, Developed with funding from the Mathematics & Science Center
Revealing Reptiles There are four kinds of reptiles: 1) lizards and snakes; 2) crocodiles and alligators; 3) turtles and tortoises; 4) tuataras. http://mathinscience.info
Snakes! Snakes have a very flexible backbone with lots of vertebra. This allows them to move in an “S” pattern. Snakes have dry, scaly skin. http://mathinscience.info
Some snakes keep on growing until they are “giant-sized”. Snakes can re-grow old teeth when they lose them. http://mathinscience.info
Snake eggs usually have a leathery shell. Most snakes bury their eggs in the ground. http://mathinscience.info
Snakes crawl out of their old skin, usually leaving it behind in one piece. http://mathinscience.info
Turtles and Tortoises! The turtle and tortoise shell is really their backbone and ribs, which have grown outside of their skin to protect them. http://mathinscience.info
Crocodiles and Alligators! Crocodiles and alligators live mostly in the water. They are meat eaters. http://mathinscience.info
Crocodiles and alligators lay their eggs on land. They take good care of their young. They grow very, very large in a lifetime. http://mathinscience.info
Crocodiles and alligators can usually be found baking in the sun. They will also use the water to help them to cool off or to keep them warm. http://mathinscience.info
Tuatara! Tuatara can only be found on the islands of New Zealand. They are protected in New Zealand because they are an endangered species. http://mathinscience.info
The tuatara eats beetles, spiders, slugs, snails, grasshoppers, earthworms, as well as bird eggs, baby birds and small lizards. http://mathinscience.info
Tuataras do lay eggs like most reptiles but the eggs do not hatch for a year or more. http://mathinscience.info
Lizards! There are over 3,000 kinds of lizards. Most lizards live on the ground, some live in trees, some burrow, and some live in the water. http://mathinscience.info
All lizards have “super” long tongues. They can “taste” smells in the air and on the ground, using their tongue. http://mathinscience.info
Lizards have great claws for gripping. They also use their tail for gripping and keeping them attached to tree branches. http://mathinscience.info
COOL FACTS! • Reptiles bodies are covered in scales, which keep their bodies from drying out. • Snakes need hot air temperatures to help them digest their food. • Thousands of male garter snakes hibernate together for warmth. • The poisonous black mamba is the fastest snake. It can move up to 12 mph (19 km/h). • The crocodile will often open its mouth so that the sun’s heat warms the blood vessels in its mouth. This helps to warm its body. • The Marion’s tortoise is thought to be the world’s longest lived animal. It can live for 150 years. http://mathinscience.info
Slides 2 – 10 and 14 - 16 : Smithsonian National Zoological Park; Reptiles & Amphibians photo gallery Photographer: Jessie Cohen http://natzoo.si.edu/Animals/PhotoGallery/ReptilesAmphibians/default.cfm Slides 11 & 13 : Department of Conservation Mount Bruce National Wildlife Center www.mtbruce.doc.govt.nz/tuatara.htm Slide 12 : Tuatara Photographer: Michael Schneider www.bigjude.com/Tuatara.html Photograph Credits http://mathinscience.info