10 Reptiles Facts

Reptiles, the cold blooded animals, lie in six major groups of animals. These could be an antagonistic crocodile or a cruel snake. We can relate reptiles with their ancestors called amphibians that are present on the earth more than 340 million years ago. You can say, much before the existence of human being on the earth. Here are some exciting facts about reptiles.

1. Origin of Reptiles

Scientists have discovered that reptiles are present on the earth about 300 million years ago. Every reptile contains organisms like Petrolacosaurus, Hylonomus, Paleothyris and Archaeothyris. The estimation of reptile presence on the earth is based on those footprints that scientists have found in Nova Scotia.

2. Number of Groups and Species

We can divide reptiles into four major groups like squamata, turtles, tuataras and crocodilians. Squamata is the largest group with 7600 species. Among these species, only lizards have 4500 species, snakes have 2900 species and amphisbaenian species are 158 in total. The numbers of turtle species are 294 and claimed as the second largest group of reptiles. Similarly, crocodilians and tuataras have 23 and 2 species respectively.

3. Cold-Blooded

As reptiles have no ability to control their body temperature, so we call them the cold-blooded animals. The body temperature of reptiles varies in accordance with temperature of environment.

4. Tetra pods

Being having four limbs, we call reptiles as tetra pods as well. remember one thing! No doubt, snakes and amphisbaenians have no legs. However, it does not mean that they have no legs in the past. They were also tetra pods in the past, just like their other family members.

5. Scales

We can say scales over the skin of every reptile. In fact, these scales perform a weird duty for reptiles. These scales prevent body moisture loss of reptiles and save their skin from abrasion.

6. Largest Turtle Specie

The largest specie of turtles is named as leatherback turtles. Their weight could be from 250 to 700mkg with an average length of 2 meters.

7. Largest Lizard Species

The largest specie in lizard class is known as Komodo dragon. The length and weight of komodo dragon could be more than 3 meters and 70 kg as well.

8. Largest Reptile on Earth

Among all the groups of reptiles, the largest specie belongs to crocodilian family and having name as saltwater crocodile. The length range of saltwater crocodile is from 4 to 5.5 meters with weight range from 600 to 1000 kg.

9. Age of Reptiles

About 245 million years ago, there was an era called “Age of Reptiles” or “Mesozoic Era”. The ending time of this era was same as the extinction time of dinosaurs’ means about 65 million years ago.

10. Chameleon

There is a very interesting fact regarding one specie of lizard, known as Chameleon. This lizard has ability of changing color in resemblance to its environment.