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Open Your Eyes To The
Hisssstory of Reptiles
Mike Schornak
November 2003
Revised December 2003
Table of Contents
WHAT HISS A REPTILE? ...
“Reptiles are egg-laying vertebrates that have a tough skin with a covering of scales. ... For that reason, you find these cold-blooded reptiles everywhere except the Polar Regions, places so cold they can not sustain their lives. ... You can find reptiles in both water and land, but all have to rise to the surface since they are dependent on oxygen. ... Wilson, 2001) More than just snakes; there are four main groups of reptiles alive today:
• Chelonian Group: tortoises, turtles, and terrapins. ... (Reptiles & Amphibians, Dr. ... Cogger, 1999)
Reptilian Reality
Did you know that some reptiles live to
be over 100 years of age? ... Reptiles evolved from these early amphibians about 340 million years ago. ...
As time progressed, reptiles diversified and developed into many different types. ... During this period there were at least 20 different orders of reptiles. ... They are the oldest group of living reptiles. This species in this order are the only reptiles that have a shell built into their skeletal system. ... (Reptiles & Amphibians, Dr. ... Cogger, 1999) (Reptiles AND Amphibians, Mark O’Shea & Tim Halliday, 2001)
Reptilian Reality
The largest turtle is the Leatherback. ... At the same time that these two groups were coming into existence, so were two reptile groups that we have heard plenty about but are extinct: the flying reptiles, or pterosaurs, and the dinosaurs. ...
The “ruling reptiles, ” as the crocodilian group is sometimes called, include the world’s largest and most dangerous reptiles. ... Called “living fossils” by many scientists, these small to medium-sized reptiles were seen though out the world starting about 225 million years ago. ... Compare to other reptiles, they tolerate cold weather better and can withstand 50 degrees. (Reptiles & Amphibians, Dr. ... Cogger, 1999) (Eye Wonder Reptiles, Simon Holland, 2002) (Reptiles Magazine, article: The Tuataras of New Zealand, Tony Jones, September 2000) (Giant Book of Questions and Answers, John Fardon, 1998) (Animal, David Burnie & Don E. ...
Reptiles of the Rhynchocephalian group are
also known as “beak-head” reptiles. ... Wilson, 2001) (Reptiles & Amphibians, Dr. ... Cogger, 1999) (Giant Book of Questions and Answers, John Fardon, 1998) (Eye Wonder Reptiles, Simon Holland, 2002) (Reptiles AND Amphibians, Mark O’Shea & Tim Halliday, 2001)
Reptilian Reality
There are about 3,000 KNOWN species of lizards.
Approximate Word count = 1911
Approximate Pages = 7.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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