Concept : What is a reptile?

Animal Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Sauropsida Order: Reptilia

Critical Attributes• Animal that crawls or moves on its belly or on small

short legs • Air-breathing; respiration by lungs• Vertebrates • Body usually covered with scales, shields or bony

plates • Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat

from the environment• Legs are anchored at the side of the body• Peg-like teeth• Toes have claws

Positive Examples

Snake

• Respiration by lungs

• Well-developed nervous system

• Bony endoskeleton

Tortoise

• Protective shell• Shell bones covered with broad scales• Legs are anchored at the side of the body

Alligator

• Dry, scaly skin• Scales not separate, detachable structures • Blend well with their surroundings

Iguana

• Has a backbone• Tough, horny scales• Relies on keen senses to find food and

evade predators

Negative Attributes

• Covered with hair or fur• Feathered• Winged and able to fly• Scales are separate, detachable structures• Don’t breathe in air• Warm-blooded • Mammary (milk-secreting) glands• Most mammals bear live young• Elaborated teeth• Legs are under the body

Negative Examples

Fish: non-reptile

• Scales are separate, detachable structures

• Does not breath air

Lion: non-reptile

• Covered with hair

• Warm blooded

• Bear live young

Koala: non-reptile

• Covered with fur

• Warm blooded• Elaborate teeth

Bird: non-reptile

• Feathered• Winged and able to fly

• Legs are under the body

Reptile or non-reptile?

• Decide whether or not each animal in the following photos fits into the category of reptiles.

Bird

• Feathered

• Winged and able to fly

Sea Turtle

• Skin is scale

• Breathe in air

• Cold-blooded, meaning they get their body heat from the environment

Bison

• Covered with hair

• Mammary (milk-secreting) glands

• Elaborated teeth

Snake

• Cold-blooded• Does not rely on energy from food to

generate body heat• Lay eggs on dry land

Giraffe

• Covered with hair• Warm-blooded

• Give birth to live young

Lizard

• Able to change the color of their skin

• Legs are anchored at side of the body

Crocodile

• Dry, scaly skin• Scales not separate, detachable

structures • Toes have claws

Students form into groups

Generate your own examples of positive and negative examples of reptiles. Discuss and present your examples to the class through any of the following:

• Graphic Organizer

• Writing a short essay

• Presentation (computer or poster)