Reptiles & Amphibians

1. Reptiles & Amphibians 12. Lizards & Iguanas

2. Large lizards look like crocodiles Vocabulary: lizards A reptile with dry, scaly skin, four legs, and a tail

3. The smallest lizard is about 3 inches long The largest lizard, the Komono dragon, can grow to be 10 feet long

4. Because lizards are cold-blooded, most lizards live in warm places Lizards are the most common reptiles found in deserts

5. Lizards live on the ground or in trees Some lizards have special sticky toes which allow them to walk upside down on a ceiling (like the gecko)

6. A few lizards eat plants instead of animals, but some eat insects and other small animals The Komono dragon can eat small deer and wild pigs

7. Most lizards hatch from eggs but some are born alive Young lizards can take care of themselves as soon as they are born

8. Iguanas belong to the lizard group Many different kinds of iguanas live on land

9. The marine iguana, however, is the only lizard that lives in the sea as well as on land Vocabulary: marine An animal that lives in the sea

10. Marine iguanas are found only on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean They may look dangerous, but they are actually very peaceful

11. These gray-black lizards use their strong, sharp claws to climb the rocky shores of the Galapagos Islands Marine iguanas are very good swimmers

12. The marine iguana’s flat tails look like paddles The tails help push them through the water

13. Marine iguanas spend most of their time resting in the sun or shade of the rocky coast They feed on algae and seaweed from the water