Safekipedia
Extant Pennsylvanian first appearancesParaphyletic groupsReptiles

Reptile

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A female tuatara named Huruwhenua at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in New Zealand, part of efforts to protect endangered species.

Amazing Reptiles

Reptiles are cool animals that include turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and the tuatara. They live on every continent except Antarctica. Reptiles come in many sizes, from tiny geckos to very big crocodiles.

Reptiles are special because they warm their bodies using outside sources, like the sun. This helps them stay comfortable. They do not need water to have babies. They lay eggs with shells on land, which helps them live in dry places, even deserts.

Reptiles have been around for a very long time. Their ancestors lived during the late Carboniferous period. Today, reptiles are important for nature. They help control insect numbers and are food for other animals. The study of reptiles and amphibians is called herpetology.

Reptiles have dry, scaly skin that helps them stay dry. They shed their skin sometimes, which helps them grow. Many reptiles have great vision, especially in daylight, and some can even see ultraviolet light. Some reptiles, like turtles, eat plants and swallow small stones to help grind up their food.

Images

A close-up photo of a scalar snake, a species found in parts of Europe and North Africa.
A reconstructed skeleton of a pterosaur on display at the Texas Science and Natural History Museum.
An illustrated drawing of various reptiles from a historical French encyclopedia.
An old scientific drawing showing the discovery of a Mosasaur fossil in Maastricht, highlighting an important moment in paleontology.
Digital restoration of Varanodon agilis, an ancient prehistoric reptile.
A skeleton of a bearded dragon displayed at the Museum of Osteology, helping us learn about animal anatomy.
An artist’s pencil drawing of Milleretta, an ancient reptile from the Late Permian period in South Africa.
An artist’s digital illustration of Lanthanosuchus watsoni, an ancient reptile from prehistoric times.
An artist’s drawing of Scutosaurus, a large armored reptile that lived over 250 million years ago during the Permian period.
An artist’s illustration of Sclerosaurus armatus, an ancient reptile from the time of the dinosaurs.
Illustration of Labidosaurus hamatus, an ancient reptile from the time of the dinosaurs.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Reptile, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.