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The Complete Guide to Reptiles
The reptiles are a group of vertebrate animals. Reptiles are tetrapods, and also are amniotes (animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane). Today they are represented by four orders:
- Order Crocodylia (crocodiles and alligators): 23 species
- Order Rhynchocephalia (tuataras from New Zealand): 2 species
- Order Squamata (lizards,snakes and amphisbaenians {"worm-lizards"}): approximately 7,600 species
- Order Testudines (turtles): approximately 300 species
Reptiles are found on all continents except for Antarctica, although their main distribution comprises the tropics and subtropics. Reptiles don't have a constant body temperature. Modern species of reptiles do not generate sufficient body heat to mantain a constant body temperature, and instead rely on gathering and losing heat from the environment to regulate their internal temperature, such as by moving between sun and shade.
