- Reptiles are scaly skinned animals which live in many different habitats mainly in warm regions . They include crocodiles, lizards, snakes and tortoises.
- Reptiles are coldblooded, but this does not mean that their blood is cold. A reptile’s body cannot keep its blood warm, and the animal has to control its temperature by moving between hot and cool places.
- Reptiles bask in the sun to gain energy to hunt, and are often less active at cooler times of year.
- A reptile’s skin looks slimy, but it is quite dry. It keeps in moisture so well that reptiles can survive in deserts. The skin often turns darker to absorb the sun’s heat.
- Although reptiles grow for most of their lives, their skin does not, so they must slough (shed) it every now and then.
- Amphibians are animals that live both on land and in water. They include frogs, toads, newts and salamanders.
- Most reptiles lay their eggs on land, but amphibians hatch out in water as tadpoles, from huge clutches of eggs called spawn.
- Like fish, tadpoles have gills to breathe in water, but they soon metamorphose (change), growing legs and lungs.
- Amphibians never stray far from water.
- Reptiles were the first large creatures to live entirely on land, over 350 million years ago.
Facts on Amphibians
Tags: amphibian trivia, amphibians, facts about amphibians, frogs