EXPLORE > ANIMALS
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Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates descended from amphibians. Their bodies are protected by scales and reproduce by laying eggs.

ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES (Crocodilia):

Snakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic) carnivores found on every continent except Antarctica. They have elongated, limbless bodies and move by slithering along the ground. Overlapping scales help protect their bodies from harm and retain moisture. All snakes are predators. A minority will kill prey or protect themselves through the use of venom. Nonvenomous snakes will kill by either constricting or swallowing other animals whole. 

LIZARDS AND SNAKES (Squamata):

Lizards and snakes are cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals found on every continent except Antarctica. They have elongated bodies covered in overlapping scales which help protect them from harm and retain moisture. Lizards have fours legs while snakes are limbless. All these animals are vertebrates with over 10,000 known species worldwide. 

TURTLES (Testudines):

Turtles are cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals with bony or cartilaginous shells which cover their backs and sides and protect them from damage. These are aquatic reptiles which may live in both fresh and seawater environments. They are an extremely old species with the earliest examples extending back 220 million years. Today, there are over 350 known species.