Lunes, Enero 2, 2012

Introduction to reptiles

Reptiles or reptilians are members of a group of air-breathing ecothermic vertebrabates, meaning they are cold blooded. This mean they are characterized by laying shelled eggs, except for vipers and constrictors since they give live birth, and also have skin covered in scales or scutes. They are tetrapods, this means this means that they either have four limbs or they came from four-limbed ancestors. Reptiles inhabit every continent except for Antartica. Reptiles originated around 320-310 million years ago during the carboniferous period. The reptiles evolved from advanced amphibians that became used to and adapted to life on dry land. Four types of reptiles that are usually recognized in society are crodilia, sphenodontia, squatama and testudines.
 

                                                             The Reptilian Environment

As we know that reptiles live mostly on dry lands. But there are some reptiles that live temporarily or permanently in water. Reptiles such as the sea snake, crocodiles, sea turtles, and lizards that have been known to even walk on water called "The Jesus Lizard".

                                                             Reptilian Reproduction

Some reptiles lay eggs and others deliver live young. Females do not need the presence of a male in order to lay eggs so they can reproduce asexually. There are little differences between males and females in most species of reptile, but in others the differences are obvious. Reptiles can also be checked by ultrasound, surgery , radiographs, ect. Most reptile eggs are artificially incubated.

Most reptiles lay eggs. The act of laying eggs is called oviposition. Reptiles that lay eggs are called oviparious. Some reptiles bear live young, and the term for this is viviparous. Technically, a female that lays eggs is said to be gravid when she is holding eggs inside of her. A female that gives birth to live young may correctly be called pregnant.
 

                                                              The worlds biggest Crocodile
The place which has actually the biggest crock now is in the Philippines. After capturing a crocodile which is the largest could be caught alive in the world, officials said they were hunting for a bigger animal, in the cracks of a remote southern Philippines can hide.The villagers and hunters trap veteran of a 20-foot saltwater crocodile with a weight of 1075 kg and is at least 50 years old. It is the largest to be caught alive in the Philippines. Wildlife officials were trying to confirm whether it was the biggest catch of its kind in the world