Special Features of Reptiles

Reptiles are unique in the animal kingdom in that they are cold blooded, possess scales and their young do not go through a larval stage. They possess many interesting and special features within their class, Reptilia, making them unlike any other animals on the face of the Earth. Reptiles are broken down into five basic groups: lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, crocodiles and alligators, and tuataras.

Cold Blooded

All reptiles are cold-blooded, or ectothermic. They depend on their environment to supply their body heat. The sun is their primary heat source. Reptiles still require body heat in order to maintain normal bodily functions such as digestion, respiration and circulation. Because reptiles use external heat sources to supply energy to perform normal bodily functions, they require less food overall, up to 90 percent less than other animals. Reptiles hibernate in winter when temperatures remain too cold to acquire adequate warmth from their environment.

Mouth Bacteria

Komodo dragons are the largest living reptiles.

Alligators, crocodiles and Komodo dragons are the largest known living reptiles. These modern-day dinosaurs inspire fear, as they should. All three have the ability to grow in excess of 10 feet in length, weighing more than 300 pounds. Predatory hunters by nature, these large reptiles not only have massive teeth and powerful jaws, but also possess a secret weapon. All three harbor deadly bacteria in their mouths that will often kill prey even if it happens to escape their deadly grasp. Komodo dragons are especially known for their fast-acting, toxic mouth bacteria, which are strong enough to kill large prey such as water buffalo.

Feet

Many small lizards and geckos have the ability to climb walls. This characteristic could lead you to believe they have suction cups on their feet. Actually, these lizards have very small hook-like hairs covering the surface of their feet, something similar to Velcro, which allows them to climb vertical surfaces.

Regeneration

All animals possess the ability of regeneration, but most only in the natural process of healing. However, some reptiles are actually able to re-grow entire limbs. Lizards are known to lose their tail or leg in order to escape a predator. This lost limb actually grows back. There are limits to a reptile's ability to regenerate limbs. Unlike the fabled hydra, modern-day reptiles are unable to regenerate their head or necessary organs. Also, because of the complex nature of the prehensile tail found in a few reptile species, this type of reptile's tail does not grow back.