Reptile and Amphibian Catalog
Reptiles and Amphibians
Amphibians are vertebrate animals that have the ability to live both on land and in the water.
Reptiles are animals that crawl or moves on their short legs or belly. They have skin that is covered in scales.
Both are cold-blooded vertebrates, so they cannot regulate or change their temperature. They rely on the environment around them to warm up or cool down.
The study of Reptiles and Amphibians is called Herpetology
Reptiles
Taxonomy and Reptile Classification
Reptile Characteristics
Reptile Animal Science
As of May 2023, about 12,000 living species of reptiles are listed in the Reptile Database.
There are 4 orders of reptiles: Testudines (which are the turtles and tortoises), Crocodilia (alligators, crocodiles, and caiman), Squamata (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenias or worm lizards), and Rhynchocephalia (the tuatara).
Turtles are old
Reptile biology is a fascinating study of the anatomy and behavior of these creatures. Reptiles are ectotherms, meaning they rely on external sources of temperature to regulate their body temperature. As a result, many reptiles exhibit behavior such as basking in sunlight to warm up or moving into shaded areas to cool down.
Another notable characteristic of reptilian physiology is that they have dry, scaly skin, which helps them retain moisture and protect them from predators. Reptiles also have rudimentary but powerful immune systems. With such specialized adaptations, we can learn a lot about how organisms survive in different conditions. For example, when it comes to conservation efforts for endangered species, understanding the intricacies of their biology can inform decision-makers on how best to protect them and keep them safe in their natural habitats.
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Amphibians
Taxonomy and Amphibian Classification
Amphibian Characteristics
There are around 6,200 different species of amphibians that we know of.
The Class Amphibia is broken down into 3 different orders:
- Apoda: which includes the caecilians.
- Anura: which includes the frogs and toads.
- Urodela: which includes the salamanders and newts.
Amphibian Animal Science
Frogs and toads lose their tail when they get to adulthood. They also have longer back legs than other amphibians to help them jump high and far.
Frogs can jump 20 times their own body length and have longer back legs than toads.
Frogs spend more time in the water than toads, and they have smooth, moist skin.
Frogs and toads lose their tail when they get to adulthood. They also have longer back legs than other amphibians to help them jump high and far.
Toads spend more time on land than frogs, and they have rougher, drier skin.
Salamanders and Newts keep their tail when they become adults.
These amphibians have all their legs the same length. This is so they can walk and swim instead of jump.
Salamanders and Newts keep their tail when they become adults.
These amphibians have all their legs their same length. This is so they can walk and swim, instead of jump.
A fun fact is Salamanders can regrow their legs if they get lost to a predator.
Latest Amphibian Posts
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