Reptiles: definition, characteristics and examples

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The animal world is full of unique animal groups, some of them having been on our planet for centuries, even having dominated the planet for years. One of these groups of animals are the reptiles, which have been on our planet for centuries, being the group to which the dinosaurs belonged. Therefore, in this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to offer you the definition, characteristics and examples of reptiles.

Reptiles are a group of Vertebrate animals, amniotes, with lung respiration and cold blooded. They are vertebrates because they have a backbone, amniotes because the embryo develops four envelopes, and cold-blooded because they are not able to regulate their temperature without taking into account the environment that surrounds.

The time of greatest splendor of the reptiles was during the Mesozoic Era, or era of the dinosaurs, being the time when dinosaurs arose, a series of reptiles that were the dominant species on our planet for millions of years, until a mass extinction of the largest species began.

The origin of the reptiles is quite curious, since come from the oldest vertebrates, that is to say, of the amphibians. Reptiles are thought to have been born during the Carboniferous period, originating from a group of amphibians, and largely disappeared at the end of this period in a mass extinction.

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To continue with this lesson on definition, characteristics and examples of reptiles, we must talk about the different characteristics of this group of animals. Reptiles have a series of characteristics that unite them as a group and differentiate them from other classes of animals.

Some features of reptiles are the following:

1. They are capable of inhabiting both land and water, although most are terrestrial beings.
2. They have a tough, flaky skin, rich in in keratin.
3. They have a double circuit circulatory system.
4. Your breath is pulmonary.
5. They control their temperature by moving around.
6. They may be oviparous or ovoviviparous, although the most common form is oviparous.
7. Most reptiles have a carnivorous diet, although there are also some herbivorous species.
8. The fertilization of all reptiles is internal.
9. Reptile eggs are terrestrial and surrounded by a strong shell.
10. They may not have legs like snakes, or have very short legs.
11. Your skin is rich in sulfur, which allows them live in very dry areas, as for example in large deserts.
12. They are vertebrates, so they have backbones and vertebrae.
13. They have a locomotor system that allows them freedom of movement.

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Reptiles are divided into different groups, depending on a series of characteristics that differentiate them. These are 4 orders, between which the many different species of reptiles are divided. These orders are as follows:

• Crocodiles: It is an order of large predatory reptiles that live largely in aquatic environments. They are one of the oldest orders, and are related to birds. It is shaped like long reptiles, with a long snout, and a powerful tail. They are considered to be the closest reptiles to dinosaurs, and in some cases they are even said to be their most direct descendants, along with birds. Some examples of reptiles belonging to this order are the crocodiles and the alligators.
• Chelonians: They are an order of reptiles characterized by having a short and wide body, and a shell It protects its inner workings. The shell has different openings, from where its limbs, its head, and its tail come out. The greatest example of this order are the turtles, both marine and terrestrial.
• Sphenodonts: They are an order of reptiles characterized by having imbricated scales. Most of the species of this order are extinct, the only exception being the you will.
• Scaly: They are an order of reptiles characterized by having two pits on each side of the skull. They are the most recent order of reptiles, and also the one with the largest number of species today. Some examples of species belonging to this order are the lizards and snakes, among which are species as famous as cobras or chameleons.

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