About reptiles & amphibians

Whether you hate frogs and snakes or are fascinated by them, we hope you’ll find something interesting in this article! Reptiles and amphibians have many physical differences, but they can be grouped together for a couple of reasons. Both are cold-blooded or ‘ectothermic,’ which means their body temperatures adjust to the temperatures of their surroundings, rather than maintaining one set body temperature like humans do. So when they get too hot, they jump in cool water or hide in the shade. When they need to warm up, they bask in the sun or burrow into mud. In colder climates, reptiles and amphibains hibernate during the winter.

Amphibians and reptiles are also vertebrates: they have a backbone. The joints in between the individual vertebrae allow the backbone to be somewhat flexible. All reptiles and amphibians, except crocodilians, have three-chambered hearts. The crocodilians need more efficient four-chambered hearts like ours, because of their size.

Reptiles: What comes to mind when you think of reptiles? An alligator poking its head out of a bayou? A snake sliding through the grass? A pet turtle? There’s a lot of variety in the reptile world; in addition to the ones just named, there are tortoises; lizards (including Komodo dragons, iguanas, geckos, and skinks); gharials, caimans, and crocodiles; amphisbaenians or ‘worm lizards’; and iguana-like tuataras.

Lizards are the largest group of reptiles, with about 4500 species. Geckos are lizards with tiny pads on their feet that help them cling to walls. They eat spiders and mosquitoes, making them helpful critters to have in your house if you live in a tropical climate! Some species make a clicking or squeaking noise that sounds like their name, ‘gecko.’ Chameleons, another kind of lizard, are most well-known for their ability to change color to blend into their environment.