1. 1.What is a Reptile? 1

2. What do turtles, alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and lizards have in common? 2 They are all reptiles

3. 3 Vocabulary: reptiles Cold-blooded vertebrate that breathes air with lungs

4. Remember: Vertebrates are animals with backbones 4 Most reptiles live on land, but some live in water, and some live in both land and water

5. All reptiles have lungs to get oxygen they need by breathing air 5 The air mixes with blood in its lungs then the heart moves the blood around the body

6. But must swim to the surface to fill their lungs with air 6 Water reptiles can stay underwater for long periods of time

7. which means their body temperature changes with the environment around them 7 Reptiles are cold-blooded

8. Reptiles can be found living in warm and hot climates throughout the world 8 For this reason, reptiles cannot live in the coldest places on Earth

9. Snakes and a few lizards do not have legs 9 Most other reptiles have four legs which have 5 toes with claws

10. A reptile’s skin is dry, thick, and waterproof 10 The skin is covered with scales

11. 11 Vocabulary: scales Thin hard plates that cover the body of most reptiles

12. Some reptiles, like snakes, must shed their skins in order to grow 12 Vocabulary: shed Get rid of skin in order to grow

13. Most reptiles reproduce by laying eggs on land 13 Many lay eggs with tough, leathery shells; but some have hard shells

14. The young of some reptiles do not hatch from eggs but are born alive 14

15. Most young reptiles care for themselves as soon as they are born 15 but some protect their young for up to 12 weeks