Page 30 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide
P. 30
Jackson’s
chameleon
Male uses REPTILES
horns to fight
other males
over territory
Alligators, cobras, tortoises, and geckos are just some of the
animals found in this diverse group of vertebrates. Most reptiles
live on land, and all have tough, scaly skin that stops them from
drying out, even in hostile desert habitats. Many lay eggs with
leathery shells, although some produce live young. Reptiles are
ectothermic (cold-blooded). They bask in the Sun’s heat to warm
American alligator up and seek shade to cool down. Mangrove snake
Adhesive foot
pads enable
gecko to cling
3
to any surface
Tokay
1
gecko
Strong jaws snap
shut and teeth Powerful, flat-sided
grip prey tail lashes from side to
side to propel crocodile
through water
Green
Nile crocodile
Komodo
dragon anolis
2
4 Corn snake
Powerful limbs ending
in sharp claws
Pit organs detect
heat given off by prey
at night to create a Toxic bacteria
“heat picture” in saliva cause
blood poisoning
in prey
Royal python Snake-necked turtle
5
Desert tortoise
28
(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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