Reptiles, also known as reptiles, are a class of animals, usually terrestrial and vertebrate. It includes creatures such as turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes. Several centuries ago, they were combined with amphibians, and now they are considered close to birds. Many reptiles are so unique that not even a professional biologist will be interested in studying this class. What are reptiles like? Photos and names, as well as some information about each posted in our article, will help to figure this out.
Turtles
Perhaps these reptiles with shell are the most famous reptile animals. Examples include both land and marine species, they are found in many countries of the world, in addition, they are often kept at home even by those who are not a big fan of exotic. Turtles appeared two hundred million years ago, it is believed that they came from primitive cotilosaurs. For a long time people liked them - these are practically not dangerous animals that cause associations only with wisdom and calmness. Turtles are the only ones in the class that have a shell. Inside, it is bony, and outside it is formed by horn tissue from many separate elements connected by plates. Land turtles breathe lightly, and water turtles breathe with the help of the pharyngeal mucosa. In addition, these animals are unique in that they live longer than any other reptiles. The names of the oldest turtles include species such as the Carolina box, one of the captured reptiles was 130 years old. However, in the wild, more impressive figures are possible, just these individuals did not fall into the hands of researchers.
Chameleons
Perhaps, many people, if they are asked to recall the names of reptiles, will be the last to say about these lizards. Unusual reptiles live on tree branches and are known for their unique disguise. Their skin can change color according to their surroundings. Unsurprisingly, chameleons are often kept at home. But it is worth considering that these are quite demanding reptiles. Photos and names are not all that you need to study before buying an exotic pet. First you need to understand the conditions of detention - the chameleon needs a spacious terrarium with floor heating and special lamps, a small pond and a tree, with excellent ventilation, and you will have to buy insects as food.
Iguanas
Listing the names of reptiles, which often become domesticated, one cannot but mention the iguanas. He has become very popular in recent years, and the number of such pets can be measured in tens of thousands. But you should not believe the information that holding such a lizard is as simple as a cat or dog. An iguana is a finicky creature whose existence requires a lot of attention and money. For the lizard, a special terrarium with a special temperature regime, as well as food from fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, is needed. If all the conditions are met, an iguana can grow up to five kilograms! A unique feature of these creatures is molting - in many reptiles, it occurs quickly, and sometimes takes weeks.
Crocodiles
These animals are perhaps the most dangerous and frightening reptiles. The names may be different - crocodiles, gavials, alligators, caimans, but in any case they are creatures from the same squad. They came from reptiles measuring more than fifteen meters in length and have been known since ancient times. Paleontologists have discovered traces of ancient crocodiles in Europe, North America, India and Africa. Now their size is much more modest, but they still remain the largest of the reptiles. Crocodiles spend most of their lives in water, exposing only eyes, nose and ears from it. Tail and paws with membranes make swimming an easy task, but only a comb variety can swim far into the sea. On land, they build nests, and sometimes they just choose to warm themselves. The names of the reptiles of this squad are different, but the alligator and the crocodile have one thing in common - they are dangerous to humans. The reptile has incredible speed and a strong tail, so a sudden throw can cost the careless traveler of the limbs or even life.
Snakes
This is another reptile whose names are known to all. They differ from other reptiles in their long body shape, lack of paired limbs, eyelids and external auditory meatus. Separate similar signs can be found in lizards, but all together - only in snakes. Now man knows their three thousand species. The body of the snake consists of three parts - the head, trunk and tail. In some species, the hind limbs are preserved in a rudimentary form. Many of them are poisonous, with tubular or grooved teeth, which contain dangerous fluid coming from the salivary glands. All internal organs are elongated, and the bladder is absent. The eyes are covered with a transparent cornea formed from fused eyelids. In snakes, leading a daytime lifestyle, the pupil is located transversely, and at night - vertically. Because of the reduced ear, only loud sounds are distinguished.
Uzhi
The names of reptiles can be very different, despite the fact that they belong to the same order. For example, snakes are snakes, although some believe that this is a separate species. In fact, these reptiles are simply not poisonous. However, these are snakes. They are distinguished by expressive scales with large ribs. Most snakes live near water bodies and feed on fish or amphibians. Less often, they manage to catch a small mammal or bird. He swallows the prey alive without killing it. In danger, reptiles pretend to be dead, and when attacked, they release a liquid with an unpleasant odor. For breeding, snakes are looking for a bunch of vegetable debris, manure or wet moss.
Monitor lizards
These are very famous reptiles, whose names are most often associated with the Komodo variety. In fact, there are seventy species, and they live not only on certain islands. However, they all differ in impressive size - only short-tailed ones reach up to twenty centimeters, and all others can grow up to a meter. But, of course, the chest of drawers are the largest, with a weight of one and a half centners and a length of three meters. That is why they were called dragons. The lizards have tenacious and strong paws, a muscular long tail and large scales. The long tongue with a bifurcation at the end of the lizard smells. The color is most often inexpressive, in gray, sand and brown tones, although young individuals can be striped or spotty. Lizards live in the warm countries of South or Central Asia, Africa and Australia. According to their habitats they can be divided into two groups. The first prefers desert terrain and dry shrubs, and the second keeps close to the water in the rainforest. Some monitor lizards like to spend time in trees.
Geckos
These are reptiles whose species names are associated with a unique ability to adhere even to the smoothest surfaces. A small gecko can climb a vertical glass wall or even hang on the ceiling. In order to maintain its weight, the lizard can hold with one foot. This feature has been surprising people for several millennia - Aristotle tried to solve gecko skills.
Modern science knows the answer - on the fingers of the reptile there are small ridges with thin bristles that help it stay on the surface thanks to the law of interaction between molecules.