Reptiles

Characteristics Cold-blooded, possess lungs and breath air Have bony skeleton, scales, or horny plates that cover body Have a heart with 2 auricles About 6,500 species in 4 orders –Testudines: turtles, tortoises, and terrapins –Serpentes: snakes, pythons, and boas –Squamata: iguanas and lizards –Crocodilia: crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials

Characteristics cont. Fossils date back million yrs. Have 3 body types –Long and clearly defined tails like crocodiles and lizards –Long bodies that taper into tails like snakes –Short, thick bodies encased in shells like turtles and tortoises. Limbs of crocodiles and lizards are usually paired and attached to the body at right angles; their limbs are strong and powerful unlike most reptiles. Snake-like reptiles have no limbs, they move as a result of undulating movements.

Characteristics cont. Some turtles and tortoises have limbs that enable them to walk on land and swim in water. The skin of reptiles has a horny surface layer. –For snakes, lizards, and some crocodiles and alligators, the scales grow from underneath and the outer layer gets shed for new growth. –Turtles and tortoises don’t molt their thick skin, but form a new layer beneath the old one. –These scales or scutes, form rings that can be counted to determine the age of the reptile.

Characteristics cont. Snakes can’t close their eyes, but instead of eyelids, they have a transparent layer called brille. This layer of the eye is shed during the shedding process. Lizards and snakes have teeth fused to their jaw bone. –In some species the poison glands are connected to these teeth. Turtles and tortoises don’t have teeth, but sharp crushing plates. The tongues of reptiles vary – some can be long, slender, forked, etc.

Characteristics cont. All reptiles have a three-cambered heart with 2 auricles and 1 ventricle. The size of the heart reduces the metabolic rate, which lowers the heat produced from the reptile and allows the reptile to function in its surroundings. Tortoises, crocodiles, and many lizards are oviparous= laying their eggs that hatch after leaving the body. Some species are ovoviviparous= eggs that hatch within the body, with live young.

Hibernation Reptiles live in temp zones from tropical to polar Must hibernate during winter in cold zones –In order to survive they must be below frost line. –Body temps drop to a point where their body barely functions. Captive temperate-zone reptiles should also have a temp drop so they go through a hibernation –Reduce food amounts and slowly reduce temperature –Simply reverse steps to bring them out of hibernation.

Classification Turtles, terrapins and tortoises –Turtles vary greatly including common snapping turtles (12’’ &60lbs), Mud turtles, Red-eared turtles(most common pet), Blandings turtle(found in G.L. Region,7-8’’), Painted turtle, Box turtles(domed shells). –Terrapins- refers to turtles found in fresh and brackish water and are considered excellent eaters Typically 4-5’’males; 6-7’’females –Testunidae: tortoises Terrestrial and primarily herbivores Vary from 6-50’’

Classification cont. Classification of snakes, pythons, and boas –Range in size from 3’’-6’ –Found in both aquatic and dry terrestrial areas –Can be bright reds, yellows, and oranges or drab greens and browns. –Feed on termites and ants to rodents, birds, and small mammals.

Family Boida 88 species, includes boas and pythons Largest species of snakes Up to 33’ and 400+lbs. Vary in colors from yellow, red, bright greens to drab colors Boa constrictor is most popular boa. Eat rodents, birds, and small mammals. Boas lay eggs; pythons bear live young.

Iguanas and Lizards Family Gekkonidae (Geckos) –800 species –4 limbs with 5 toes that have adhesive pads(lamellae) –Most are nocturnal and have vocal cords –Don’t have eyelids –Large, flat, fleshy tongue –Most ear insects, some eat nectar, small mammals, and birds.

Family Iguanidae 650 species Range in the America’s Active during day Most lay eggs, few give birth to live young Consist of Anoles and Iguanas

Spiny Lizards Consists of largest # of species Spiny lizards, fence lizards and swifts Most reach length of 10’’ found from Canada to South America Have overlapping scales with a ridge that ends in a sharp point or spine. Primary terrestrial

Family Teiidae Commonly called whiptails, race runners, and tegus. 227 species Found from northern parts of United States to Central America.

Family Scincidae Skins: more than 1,275 species Most are small but some are 2’ Terrestrial and burrow into leaves and debris on forest floor Almost round Very short limbs (some no limbs), some can’t even move

Family Anguidae Alligator Lizards Some found in California region

Family Chamaeleonidae True chameleons Color may be controlled by surroundings, temp, and mood Tongues are long (5.5”) to catch insects

Classification: Crocodiles, Alligators, and Gharials Order Crocodilia consists of largest reptiles Crocodiles are semi-aquatic –Large head and long jaws that are lined with teeth –Brown, olive-green, or black in color –Body is covered with heavy, rough skin of scales (scutes)

Family Alligatoridae 7 species of alligators and caimans Different from crocs because of the way their teeth fit in the jaws 4 teeth on lower jaw fit into sockets of upper jaw –When closed tooth is not visible

Housing and Equipment Habitats for reptiles fit into 4 categories 1. Terrestrial 2. Semiaquatic 3. Aquatic 4. Arboreal (trees)

Housing and Equipment Terraium is a cage used for keeping land or terrestrial animals Vivarium is a cage where it duplicates the original environment as close as possible Cage sizes vary greatly –A land turtle needs a cage 5x length of shell –Aquatic: is 5 times long x 3 times wide “

Housing and Equipment Reptiles are ectotherms (can’t generate their own body temp and take in enviro’s temp) –Incandescent light is needed –Sun is also needed for calcium metabolism, pigment, and Vit D

Feeding: Turtles Aquatic turtles are carnivores and omnivores –Should be offered meat, liver, dog/cat food –Offered food every day Land turtles are herbivores –Grasses and plants, spinach, lettuce grapes (other fruit)

Feeding: Snakes All snakes are carnivorous –Captive snakes feed on earthworms, mealworms, crickets, and/or baby mice and rats, or frogs and toads –If the snake doesn’t eat rodent within a few minutes it should be removed

Feeding: Lizards Most are insect eaters –Crickets, worms Iguanas and larger lizards eat meal worms, lettuce, fresh fruit, ground meat

Handling: Turtles Place fingers under the lower shell, and thumbs on the top of the shell Don’t be alarmed if they hiss –Its just the air from their lungs as they suck in their heads and legs. Use caution with snapping and soft shelled they can reach their head around and bite you

Handling: Snakes When handling a snake for the first time (its first time), use gloves it might get scared and bite you. Use one hand to grasp firmly directly behind the head Let the snake come to you when removing from cage Transport in pillowcase

Handling: Lizards Temperament varies greatly Can be picked up with thumb and forefingers behind the head and holding body Be careful of large lizards they may bite and not let go, where gloves Clean immediately and have treated by doctor Never pick up by tail Why?

Diseases and Ailments Bacterial Diseases –Salmonella Watery, green, foul smelling diarrhea and anorexia. Can be transmitted to humans It’s important to wash hands after handling reptiles. –Environmental Control –Mouth Rot External Parasites –Mites and Ticks Internal Parasites –Roundworms and Tapeworms

Shedding Shed their skin several times during the year. Normally in one piece The first sign of shedding is that the covering of the eye becomes cloudy. It starts at the snout Should only take a couple of days Moisture is needed for the skin to shed Some reptiles require different environments for shedding.

Reproduction Turtles and most snakes lay eggs that hatch later. Most reptiles are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs that later hatch. Brood = stay with and incubate their eggs. Reptiles can lay from 1 or 2 to more than 100 eggs. The average incubation periods –Turtles=60-90 days –Snakes= days –Lizards= 30 days or less –Crocodilians= about 90 days