Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about reptiles?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about reptile facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About Reptiles
1 – Reptiles are cold blooded animals with over 7,000 species in the world. Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate body temperature.
2 – Reptiles can’t control their body temperature, so they rely on the sun or other heat sources for warmth.
3 – Reptiles shed their skin periodically as they grow, but sometimes if they’re stressed out it happens more often.
4 – The oldest known reptile is a turtle from 220 million years ago.
5 – Snakes have no eyelids and instead use their tongues to clean their eyes.
More Facts About Reptiles
6 – Some reptiles lay eggs while others give birth to live young animals.
7 – Most reptiles have scales that protect them from predators and help with shedding old skin cells off too.
8 – Alligators and crocodiles have the strongest bite force of any living animal.
9 – When turtles lay eggs, it takes them about 60 days before they hatch.
10 – The word “reptile” comes from the Latin word meaning “creeping animal.”
More Facts About Reptiles
11 – Reptiles can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
12 – Reptiles breathe air using LUNGS and nearly all of them lay shelled eggs.
13 – There is evidence that reptiles existed over 310 million years ago.
14 – A reptile has a tiny brain which is why they are considered to be less intelligent than other others.
15 – A group of snakes is called a “garter.”
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16 – Reptiles have scales that help them regulate their body temperature by absorbing heat or releasing it into the environment.
17 – The largest reptile in North America is the alligator snapping turtle which can grow up to 20 inches long and weigh 200 pounds.
18 – Snakes can’t hear, but they have an amazing sense of smell.
19 – Lizards can lose their tails if they feel threatened or attacked. Some lizards can also change colors depending on the environment (i.e., browns for desert environments).
20 – Reptiles can be found on every continent in the world except Antarctica.
More Facts About Reptiles
21 – Most reptiles have a three-chamber heart with two atria and one ventricle.
22 – Snakes need to shed their skin in order to grow – this process takes about 10 days and leaves them vulnerable until new scales develop. Snakes shed their skin as they grow larger and need more space on their body.
23 – There’s a wide variety of reptiles, including lizards, turtles, snakes, alligators, crocodiles and tuataras.
24 – Snakes have a flexible body and move by slithering on their bellies or using waves of muscular contractions that propel them forward.
25 – The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard on Earth with some growing up to 10 feet long from nose to tail tip.
BONUS FACTS
A reptile’s skin is dry because it does not sweat like a mammal would to regulate its temperature.
Snakes have a forked tongue that they use to smell with – it’s called a Jacobson’s organ.
