Characteristic OF Reptiles

Harry Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:08 am

Reptiles are ectothermic vertebrates that have lungs and scaly skin and they don’t have feathers and hair. Reptiles can spend their entire lives on dry land.
Reptiles get their oxygen form air and breathe entirely with lungs, even though some of the reptiles live in water , they still breathe with lungs and come ashore to lay eggs.
Reptiles have dry , tough skins that covered with scales, this scaly skin protect reptiles and help them keep water in their bodies. Another organ can helps keep water inside their bodies is their kidneys , which are organs that can filter wastes form the blood , then wastes are excreted in a water fluid called urine. The kidneys of reptile concentrate the urine so that the reptiles won’t lose so much water.
Reptiles have internal fertilization and they lay their eggs on land. While still inside a female’s body, fertilized eggs are covered with membranes and a leathery shell. Reptile’s egg has a shell and membranes that can protect the developing embryo and help keep if from drying out , an egg with a shell and internal membranes that keep the embryo moist is called an amniotic egg , pores on the shell let oxygen gas in and carbon dioxide gas out.
They have three-chambered hearts (except for alligators and crocodiles, which have four-chambered hearts).

Example ：　king cobra , lizards , turtles and alligators .
Reference-
Text book
http://www.ecnca.org/Animals/Reptiles/Reptile_Characteristics.htm
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