Page 212 - DK Children's Encyclopedia
P. 212

Reptiles                                                                          SEE ALSO

                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Amphibians  p.15
                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Antarctica  p.24
           Reptiles are scaly-skinned, cold-blooded animals. Most                              ▸ ▸ Deserts  p.78
           reptiles lay soft, leathery eggs. A baby reptile grows inside                       ▸ ▸ Dinosaurs  p.80
           the egg and then, when it’s ready, breaks its way out.                              ▸ ▸ Eggs  p.86

           There are four main groups of reptile.                                              ▸ ▸ Evolution  p.95

                                                                                               ▸ ▸ Sun  p.247


            All reptiles have
            scaly skin.                                                                                    Some lizards
                                                                                                           can move their
                                                                                                           eyes to look in
                                                                                                           two directions
                                                                                                           at once.










                                                                                  Lizards
                                                                                  These reptiles have many skills.
                                                                                  This chameleon can change the
                                                                                  color of its skin. Other reptiles can
                                                                                  run up walls, or break off their tails
                                                                                  to escape danger.



                                Tortoises have
                                hard shells.

                                                              Crocodiles
                                                              and alligators                              Crocodiles and
                                                              These giant reptiles have                   alligators have
                                                                                                          strong jaws.
                 Tortoises                                    existed since before dinosaurs.
                 and turtles                                  They hide under water, then
                 Turtles live in water    Reptiles live on    spring up to catch their prey    Basking
                 and tortoises live on    every continent     and drag it under.              Reptiles are cold-blooded
                 the land. Their shells   except Antarctica.                                  animals. They get the heat
                 protect them, but are                                                        their bodies need from the
                 heavy, so they move                                                          world around them, lying in
                                                                                              the sunshine to warm up.
                 very slowly out                                                              They hide in the shade to keep
                 of the water.                                                                themselves from overheating.

                                                              Snakes
                                                              All snakes swallow their prey
                                                              whole. They smell using their
                                                              tongues. Some snakes have
                                                              poisonous bites, but most
                                                              are not dangerous to people.

                                                             210





   US_210_Reptiles.indd   210                                                                                    16/05/2017   09:50
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