Rainforest Reptiles
by Thea
Reptiles are vertebrates. They belong to a group of animals characterized by having a bony backbone. There are 4,500 reptiles in the world, that we know of! The skin of a reptile differs from an amphibians, the outer layer is is thickened to form scales. Many reptiles have small bones in their skin just below the surface. These add strength and protection to the skin and help it lose less water. Skin and color changes are caused by pigment cells just below the outer layers of skin. Reptiles may be described as animals with a backbone, changeable blood, and armored skin for land battles. They usually breathe land air, and lay hard shelled, or armored eggs. Reptiles usually lay unprotected eggs in the water. Reptiles are made up of several groups, including turtles, tuataras, snakes, lizards, crocodiles and many more. Among many reptiles, rivalry among the males to court the females is usually violent. After mating takes place, many reptile females lay a large number of eggs. After the eggs hatch the young emerge by breaking through the shell. Most of them must learn to manage on their own quickly, since few species can count on the protection of their parents.
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The Amethstine Python is a giant creature, records say its length gets up to 28 ft., but it is usually about 16 ft. It is a skinny animal for its size and is not able to kill a larger animal than itself. It has to wrap around its prey and choke it. |
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An Anaconda is the same length as a large bus. Reporters claim that it gets even bigger, although that has never been proven. It kills its prey by wrapping around it so that it can't breathe. |
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The Basilisk lizard can grow to 3 ft. long including the tail. Many of the 38,000 species of lizards in the world live in the rainforest. The Basilck catches its food by running over water. According to the Bible, Jesus walked on water, so people have called the Basilick the Jesus Christ lizard. |
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Chameleons use skin color to send messages to each others. The "color talk" is not something they are born knowing. Like human children, they have to learn their language. Nearly all true Chameleons live in Africa, India, and near the Mediterranean. |
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Geckos have millions of small grippers on their big flat feet with these they can climb upside down even on the smoothest surface. A lot of geckos hunt at night. There are 800 kinds of geckos, most of them live in the Rain Forest. Some large geckos hunt for small geckos. |
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An Iguana lives high up in the canopy of the rainforest. If a boa tried to attack, the Iguana would stay very still and when the boa would strike the iguana can easily escape by dropping into a stream bellow and swimming away. |
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The Tuatara is one of the strangest animals alive on the earth. It is the only representative still living of the reptiles which dominated the earth in ancient times. The name "Tuatara" in the Maori language means "spiny - backed". |
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