Reptiles are a very special group in the animal kingdom, often piquing children's interest. There are two reasons for this:
Their appearance is very different from the mammals (cats, dogs) or birds that children are familiar with every day, making them seem "strange" and mysterious.
One extinct reptile remains fascinating to this day: the enormous dinosaur. Although they are long gone, they are still the coolest "prehistoric behemoths" in children's hearts.
So, what exactly are reptiles? How are they different from other animals? Let's find out together.
Main characteristics of reptiles
Skin characteristics
Reptiles' skin is covered with scales made of keratin.
This is a key change that evolved from amphibians. Amphibians need to live between water and land, and some early amphibians gradually evolved scales to prevent water loss in order to fully adapt to terrestrial life.
Reproduction methods
All reptiles reproduce by laying eggs.
Unlike amphibians, reptile eggs have a hard shell that helps retain internal moisture, allowing the embryo to develop successfully on land.
Furthermore, reptiles fertilize internally , just like birds and mammals.
Adapt to the environment
Scales and hard eggshells allow reptiles to live in drier environments.
They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, some adapted to living in water (such as crocodiles and sea turtles), while others survive in deserts, forests, or grasslands.
Origin of Reptiles
Scientists believe that reptiles first appeared in the Late Carboniferous period, 302 million years ago .
The evidence comes from a fossilized small lizard, Petrolacosaurus , discovered in North America, which is considered the oldest known reptile.
It resembles a modern lizard in appearance, with a slender body and a length of about 40 centimeters.
It represents a pivotal moment in the transition from ancient amphibians to true reptiles.
This means that the turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and even extinct dinosaurs we see today can all be traced back to this "ancestor".
Were dinosaurs reptiles?
The answer is yes: dinosaurs are a type of reptile .
They lived during the Mesozoic Era of Earth (251 million to 65 million years ago) .
Around 65 million years ago , a mass extinction occurred on Earth, and almost all dinosaurs disappeared.
The reason for the extinction of dinosaurs
The scientific community generally believes that the main reason was an asteroid impact on Earth :
The impact generated a large amount of dust that entered the atmosphere, blocking out sunlight.
The Earth's temperature plummeted, preventing plants from photosynthesizing.
Herbivores gradually starved to death, which in turn led to the extinction of carnivores.
This ultimately led to an unprecedented collapse of the ecosystem.
This mass extinction not only affected dinosaurs, but also caused the disappearance of many other animal and plant species.
Summarize
Reptile characteristics : scaly skin, hard eggshell, internal fertilization, and adaptation to dry terrestrial environments.
Evolutionary history : It evolved from amphibians about 300 million years ago.
Dinosaur status : Dinosaurs were indeed reptiles, but they went extinct 65 million years ago.
By learning these characteristics, children can easily distinguish what reptiles are and how they differ from other animals, such as birds or mammals.
