Concept : What is a reptile? Animal Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Sauropsida Order: Reptilia

Critical Attributes Animal that crawls or moves on its belly or on small short legs Air-breathing; respiration by lungs Vertebrates Body usually covered with scales, shields or bony plates Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat from the environment Legs are anchored at the side of the body Peg-like teeth Toes have claws

Positive Examples

Snake Respiration by lungs Well-developed nervous system Bony endoskeleton

Tortoise Protective shell Shell bones covered with broad scales Legs are anchored at the side of the body

Alligator Dry, scaly skin Scales not separate, detachable structures Blend well with their surroundings

Iguana Has a backbone Tough, horny scales Relies on keen senses to find food and evade predators

Negative Attributes Covered with hair or fur Feathered Winged and able to fly Scales are separate, detachable structures Don’t breathe in air Warm-blooded Mammary (milk-secreting) glands Most mammals bear live young Elaborated teeth Legs are under the body

Negative Examples

Fish: non-reptile Scales are separate, detachable structures Does not breath air

Lion: non-reptile Covered with hair Warm blooded Bear live young

Koala: non-reptile Covered with fur Warm blooded Elaborate teeth

Bird: non-reptile Legs are under the body Feathered Winged and able to fly Legs are under the body

Reptile or non-reptile? Decide whether or not each animal in the following photos fits into the category of reptiles.

Bird Feathered Winged and able to fly

Sea Turtle Skin is scale Breathe in air Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat from the environment

Bison Covered with hair Mammary (milk-secreting) glands Elaborated teeth

Snake Cold-blooded Does not rely on energy from food to generate body heat Lay eggs on dry land

Giraffe Covered with hair Warm-blooded Give birth to live young

Lizard Able to change the color of their skin Legs are anchored at side of the body

Crocodile Dry, scaly skin Scales not separate, detachable structures Toes have claws

Students form into groups Generate your own examples of positive and negative examples of reptiles. Discuss and present your examples to the class through any of the following: Graphic Organizer Writing a short essay Presentation (computer or poster)