reptiles, also known as reptiles, are a class of animals, as a rule, land and vertebrates.It includes such creatures as turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes.Several centuries ago, they were combined with amphibians, and is now considered to be close to the birds.Many reptiles are unique so that the study of this class will be interesting even professional biologists.What animals are reptiles?Photos and names, as well as some information about each featured in this article will help to understand it.
Turtles
Perhaps these reptiles with shell - the most famous animals, reptiles.Examples include both land and marine species, are found in many countries around the world, in addition, they often have at home, even those who are not a big fan of the exotic.Turtles were two hundred million years ago, are believed to have evolved from primitive kotilozavrov.From ancient times, people liked them - a little dangerous animals, which cause the association only with the wisdom and serenity.Turtles - the only class with the shell.Inside, it's bone and horn tissue formed on the outside of a plurality of individual elements, connecting plates.Tortoises breathe light and water - with the help of pharyngeal mucosa.In addition, these animals are unique in that they live longer than any other reptiles.Titles include the oldest turtle species such as box-like Caroline, one of the captive reptile was 130 years old.However, in the wild may be more impressive figures, these individuals simply do not fall into the hands of researchers.
Chameleons
Perhaps many people, if they offer to recall the names of reptiles animals, not least say about these lizards.Unusual reptiles live on trees and are known for their unique camouflage.Their skin can change color respectively environment.Not surprisingly, the chameleons are often kept at home.But it is necessary to take into account that it is quite demanding reptiles.Photos and names - is not all that is needed to explore before buying an exotic pet.First you need to understand the conditions of detention - chameleon need a spacious cage with heated floors and special lamps, a small pond and a tree, with good ventilation, and have to buy food as insects.
Iguanas
lists the names of reptiles, animals that are often homemade, not to mention the iguanas.He became very popular in recent years, and the number of pets can be measured in tens of thousands.But do not believe the information that hold this lizard is as easy as a cat or dog.Iguana - finicky creature whose existence requires a lot of attention and money.For lizards need a special cage with a special temperature regime and diet of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs.If you comply with all the conditions, the iguana can grow up to five kilograms!A unique feature of these creatures is molting - many reptiles, it is fast, and they have sometimes takes weeks.
Crocodiles
these animals - perhaps the most dangerous and frightening reptiles.The names may be different - crocodiles, gavials, alligators, caimans, but in any case, it being one unit.They evolved from reptiles larger than fifteen meters in length and are known for a long time.Paleontologists have discovered traces of ancient crocodiles in Europe, North America, India and Africa.Now they are much more modest size, but they are still the largest of reptiles.Most of the life of the crocodiles spend in the water, exposing her only from the eyes, nose and ears.The tail and webbed feet to make swimming an easy task, but far out at sea can swim only saltwater species.On land, they build nests, and sometimes simply chosen to bask.Names reptiles animals of this group are different, but the alligator and a crocodile one thing in common - they are dangerous to humans.Reptiles incredible speed and powerful tail, so the sudden roll can cost unwary travelers limb or even life.
Snakes
This is some reptiles, whose names are known to all.They differ from other reptiles long body shape, lack of paired limbs, eyelids and external ear canal.Some similar symptoms can be found in lizards, but all together - just snakes.Now the person knows their three thousand species.The body of the snake is composed of three parts - the head, trunk and tail.In some species, in rudimentary form preserved hind limbs.Many of them are toxic, with kanalchatymi or grooved teeth, which contain dangerous fluid flowing back from the salivary glands.All the internal organs are different elongated shape, and the bladder is absent.Eyes covers transparent cornea, formed from fused eyelids.In snakes, the leading daily life, the pupil is located laterally, and at night - vertically.Because of the reduced ear differ only loud sounds.
Adders
Names reptiles animals can be very different, despite the fact that they belong to the same troop.For example, snakes are snakes, although some believe that it is a separate species.In fact, these reptiles are not just poisonous.Nevertheless, it is a snake.They are distinguished by the expressive scale with large ribs.Most snakes live near bodies of water and feed on fish and amphibians.Less often they manage to catch a small mammal or bird.Oh swallow prey alive without killing it.When the danger of reptiles play dead, and in an attack secrete a fluid with an unpleasant odor.For breeding snakes looking for a bunch of plant debris, manure or wet moss.
Monitor lizards
This is a very well-known reptiles, whose names are most often associated with a variety of Komodo.In fact, they exist seventy species, and they are found not only on certain islands.However, they differ impressive size - just short of the short-tailed twenty centimeters, and all others can grow up to a meter.But, of course, they are the largest Komodo, weighing a half quintal and three meters in length.That is why they were called dragons.In lizards tenacious and strong legs, muscular and long tail with large scales.Long tongue with a split at the end of lizards smell.Painting mostly featureless, gray, sand and brown tones, while juveniles may be striped or mottled.Lizards live in warm countries in South or Central Asia, Africa and Australia.As habitats can be divided into two groups.First prefers desert area and dry bushes, and the second is kept closer to the water in the tropical forest.Some lizards love to spend time in the trees.
Geckos
It reptiles, species names that are associated with the unique ability to adhere to even smooth surfaces.Small gecko can climb a vertical glass wall or even hung on the ceiling.In order to keep your weight, the lizard can keep one foot.This feature surprises people for thousands of years - trying to solve the skills of geckos Aristotle.
Modern science has the answer - on the fingers of reptiles have small ridges with thin bristles that help her stay on the surface thanks to the law of interaction between molecules.