Reptiles, Bird, and mammals

Reptiles

• There are over 8,240 different species of reptiles in the world except for Antarctica.
• Reptiles are cold-blooded or "ectothermic" animals.
• Reptiles eat up to 30 to 50 times less food than birds and mammals.

reptiles cont.

• Reptiles diverged from ancestral amphibians about 340 million years ago.
• There are two distinctive features that distinguished early reptiles from amphibians. 1. they have scales 2. they have the ability to lay hard-shelled eggs.
• Reptiles are divided into four main groups.

Turtles

• The first group is the turtles.
• Turtles first appeared 200 million years ago. They have a distinctive shell that protects the interior of their body from predators and it provides camouflage.

Squamatas

• The second group consists of the squamata's which are your lizards and snakes.
• The squamata's are made up of over 7,000 different species of snakes and lizards.
• The lizards are organized into a group called Lacertilis and snakes into a group called Serpentes.

Snakes

• Snakes are slithering, legless creatures evolved from four-legged reptilian ancestors over 100 million years ago.
• All snakes are carnivores
• There are over 3,000 different species of snakes.

Lizards

• There are approximately 4,000 different species of lizards.
• Lizards first appeared around 350 million years ago. They have a long tongue, scales, and a tail. Some lizards are herbivores and some are carnivores.

Crocodilians

• The third group is the crocodilians.
• Crocodilians first appeared 250 million years ago.
• All species of crocodilians have nearly the same body structures—long snout, powerful jaws, muscular tail, large protective scales, streamlined body, and eyes and nostrils that are positioned on top of the head.

tuatara

• The fourth and final group of reptiles is the tuatara's.
• There are two living species of tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus and the much rarer Sphenodon guntheri.
• The tuatara first appeared 220 million years ago. They are known for their distinctive second bony bridge in its skull which is found in crocodilians but not in snakes and lizards.

Birds

• There are over 10,000 species of birds.
• Birds first appeared 199.6 million years ago.
• All birds are endothermic which means their body temperature is based on their surrounding environment.
• Birds are mostly known for their ability to fly.
• Their are four basic groups that birds are divided into.

game birds

• Game birds are known for their ability to run but are not able to fly long distances.
• Their wings are short and round but legs are a lot bigger. The game birds also have strongly built beaks.
• Game birds include partridges, pheasants, quall, grouse, and pea fowls.

preying birds

• Preying birds are predators. They eat mice and small mammals.
• They have a very strong and hook-like beak. Their feet have curved and pointed talons and their vision is very sharp.
• Preying birds include vultures, kites eagles and falcons.

perching birds

• Perching birds are the largest group of birds.
• When they sit on a branch they grasp it in such a way so they do not fall off.
• Swallows, finches, house sparrow, weaver-bird, crow and magpie are some common perching birds.

flightless birds

• Flightless birds can run but they cannot fly and are large in size.
• They generally lack tail feathers and the keel of sternum is absent.
• Flightless birds include penguins, ostriches, rhea, emu, and kiwi.

mammals

• There are more than 4,000 different species of mammals.
• Mammals have been around over 200 million years.
• They are divided into three main groups.

Monotremes

• Monotremes are almost extinct with only five species left on Earth.
• The species left are the platypus and four species of echnidnas.
• They lay eggs rather than give birth to live young though they still provide milk for their babies.

Marsupials

• Marsupials are a class that includes 334 species. Australia and their neighboring islands are home to nearly 200 species of marsupials.

placental

• There are four primary groups: Rodentia, Chiroptera , Carnivora , and Cetartiodactyla.
• Placental mammals are the largest group of mammals they have over 5,500 different species of mammals.
• Humans are considered to be placental mammals.