1. Revealing Reptiles Rhonda Hawley, Educator, Developed with funding from the Mathematics & Science Center

2. http://mathinscience.info2 Revealing Reptiles There are four kinds of reptiles: 1) lizards and snakes; 2) crocodiles and alligators; 3) turtles and tortoises; 4) tuataras.

3. http://mathinscience.info3 Snakes! Snakes have a very flexible backbone with lots of vertebra. This allows them to move in an “S” pattern. Snakes have dry, scaly skin.

4. http://mathinscience.info4 Some snakes keep on growing until they are “giant-sized”. Snakes can re-grow old teeth when they lose them.

5. http://mathinscience.info5 Snake eggs usually have a leathery shell. Most snakes bury their eggs in the ground.

6. http://mathinscience.info6 Snakes crawl out of their old skin, usually leaving it behind in one piece.

7. http://mathinscience.info7 Turtles and Tortoises! The turtle and tortoise shell is really their backbone and ribs, which have grown outside of their skin to protect them.

8. http://mathinscience.info8 Crocodiles and Alligators! Crocodiles and alligators live mostly in the water. They are meat eaters.

9. http://mathinscience.info9 Crocodiles and alligators lay their eggs on land. They take good care of their young. They grow very, very large in a lifetime.

10. http://mathinscience.info10 Crocodiles and alligators can usually be found baking in the sun. They will also use the water to help them to cool off or to keep them warm.

11. http://mathinscience.info11 Tuatara! Tuatara can only be found on the islands of New Zealand. They are protected in New Zealand because they are an endangered species.

12. http://mathinscience.info12 The tuatara eats beetles, spiders, slugs, snails, grasshoppers, earthworms, as well as bird eggs, baby birds and small lizards.

13. http://mathinscience.info13 Tuataras do lay eggs like most reptiles but the eggs do not hatch for a year or more.

14. http://mathinscience.info14 Lizards! There are over 3,000 kinds of lizards. Most lizards live on the ground, some live in trees, some burrow, and some live in the water.

15. http://mathinscience.info15 All lizards have “super” long tongues. They can “taste” smells in the air and on the ground, using their tongue.

16. http://mathinscience.info16 Lizards have great claws for gripping. They also use their tail for gripping and keeping them attached to tree branches.

17. http://mathinscience.info17 COOL FACTS! Reptiles bodies are covered in scales, which keep their bodies from drying out. Snakes need hot air temperatures to help them digest their food. Thousands of male garter snakes hibernate together for warmth. The poisonous black mamba is the fastest snake. It can move up to 12 mph (19 km/h). The crocodile will often open its mouth so that the sun’s heat warms the blood vessels in its mouth. This helps to warm its body. The Marion’s tortoise is thought to be the world’s longest lived animal. It can live for 150 years.

18. http://mathinscience.info18 Photograph Credits Slides 2 – 10 and 14 - 16 : Smithsonian National Zoological Park; Reptiles & Amphibians photo gallery Photographer: Jessie Cohen http://natzoo.si.edu/Animals/PhotoGallery/ReptilesAmphibians/def ault.cfm Slides 11 & 13 : Department of Conservation Mount Bruce National Wildlife Center www.mtbruce.doc.govt.nz/tuatara.htmwww.mtbruce.doc.govt.nz/tuatara.htm Slide 12 : Tuatara Photographer: Michael Schneider www.bigjude.com/Tuatara.html