WTN- Reptiles from an ancient line of vertebrates that have lived on earth for more than 300  million years. They include four main group : crocodilians, snakes, lizards , and turtles . Cold-blooded animals, reptiles most commonly inhabit the world’s temperate and tropical  region, in salt and fish water on and under the ground and in trees. A few species live in the Arctic and survive by sunning themselves for warmth. Reptiles in very hot climates often remain in the shade or underground during the day.

Like mammals and birds, reptiles engage in internal fertilization in most species, the female lays egg after fertilization ,but some snakes give birth to live young. Although female crocodiles are caring months, few reptiles raise their young or even feed them, most are long gone by the time the egg hatch.
Turtles are renowned for their longevity .the American box turtle is known to live up to 30 years, and some giant tortoises are reported to have lived for a century or more in captivity. Many sea turtles take between20 and 40 years to reach sexual maturity.

Generally, reptiles do not need to eat often as birds and mammals, they may go for days, even weeks. Without food, flexible jaws enable snakes to ingest prey that is much wider around than they are.
All snakes are carnivores, and some are aggressive predators  with venomous bites. Venom potency varies in some snake species the venom merely stuns prey, in other it kills quickly , a few lizard species ,such as the Gila monster, also have a venomous bite.

A rare ,fifth type of reptile, the tuatara, is the last of a large group of beak-headed reptiles that lived before the dinosaurs.

- Window To News