8/5/24, 2:40 PM Reptiles: Classification Study Guide - Inspirit Learning Inc

Reptiles: Classification Study Guide

March 28, 2023

Introduction

The four classes of reptilia are:

1. Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators),

2. Sphenodontia (tuataras),
3. Squamata (lizards and snakes), and
4. Testudines.

Crocodilia has 25 species, Sphenodontia has two species, Squamata has

roughly 9,200 species, and Testudines has about 325 species.

1. Crocodilia
Crocodilia emerged as a separate lineage during the middle Triassic, with
alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans as living species.
Crocodilians may be found in Africa, South America, Southern Florida, Asia,
and Australia’s tropics and subtropics.
They live in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish ecosystems, including
rivers and lakes, and spend most of their life in water.
Crocodiles are derived from terrestrial reptiles. Therefore they can still
walk and sprint.

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Source

They frequently move swimming on their bellies, pushed by alternate leg

motions. On the other hand, some animals can raise their bodies off the
ground by bringing their legs beneath them and rotating their feet to
face front. This style of mobility consumes a lot of energy and appears to
be employed largely to remove obstructions on the ground.
Some crocodiles can even gallop, propelling themselves forward with their
hind legs and moving their rear and forelegs in pairs. Galloping crocodiles
have been observed at speeds of over 17 kph.
They are, however, short-distance runners that aren’t interested in a
protracted chase.

2. Sphenodontia

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Source

Sphenodontia developed during the early Mesozoic epoch, with

considerable radiation, but only two live species remain, Sphenodon
punctatus and Sphenodon guntheri, both located on offshore islands in
New Zealand.
The term “tuatara” is derived from a Maori word that describes the crest
on its back.
Tuataras have biconcave vertebrae and a rudimentary diapsid skull.
They may reach 80 centimeters in length and weigh around a kilogram.
Despite their apparent resemblance to an iguanid lizard, the skull and jaws
have significant distinguishing traits that set them apart from the
Squamata.
Tuataras have a third (parietal) eye in the center of their forehead with a
lens, retina, and cornea. Only extremely young animals have visible eyes,
quickly covered by skin. Parietal eyes can detect light, although color
differentiation is restricted.
Other lizards have light-sensing systems that are similar to this one.
Tuataras have two rows of teeth in their upper jaw that bracket a single
row of teeth in the lower jaw. These teeth are essentially projections from
the jawbones, and when they wear down, they are not replaced.

3. Squamata
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Extant species include lizards and snakes, and the Squamata (“scaly or
possessing scales”) evolved in the late Permian.
Except for Antarctica, both are present on every continent.
Unlike snakes, most lizards have four limbs, although they have been
deleted or drastically reduced in at least 60 lineages.
Snakes do not have eyelids or external ears, seen in lizards.
There are around 6,000 different kinds of lizards, ranging in size from tiny
chameleons and geckos that are just a few centimeters long to the 3-
meter long Komodo dragon.
Chameleons and other lizards may alter their skin color by dispersing
pigment inside their chromatophores. Chameleons alter their color for
concealment as well as social signaling.
Lizards’ retinal cells contain a variety of colored oil droplets, allowing
them to see a wide spectrum of colors.

Source

Unlike snakes, lizards may change the shape of their lens to focus their
eyes, and Chameleons’ eyes may move independently.
Both lizards and snakes use their tongues to sample the environment, and
Jacobson’s organ, a pit in the roof of the mouth, is used to analyze the
sample gathered.
Most lizards eat meat. However, some big species, such as iguanas, eat
plants.
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The skulls of most snakes are extremely flexible, including eight rotating
joints.
They also vary from other squamates in that their mandibles (lower jaws)
lack anterior bony or ligamentous attachment.
The majority of snakes are non venomous, and they swallow their prey
whole or constrict it before swallowing it. Snakes with venom use it to kill
or immobilize their prey, as well as to aid digestion.
Snakes do not have eyelids, but a transparent scale protects their eyes.
Their retinas include both rods and cones, and unlike many mammals, they
lack red light receptor pigments.

4. Testudines
The clade Testudines includes turtles, terrapins, and tortoises.
Turtles’ shells are more than simply an epidermal covering; they are also
part of their skeletal structure.
The carapace is the dorsal shell, which contains the backbone and ribs,
whereas the plastron is the ventral shell.
Pleurodira and Cryptodira, the two extant families of turtles, have
substantial structural variations that are most clearly distinguished by
how they retract their necks.
Crocodiles, lizards, and snakes were preyed upon by the Testudines, who
appeared some 200 million years ago.
Turtles and tortoises are found in around 325 different species.
Turtles, like other reptiles, are ectotherms.
Although many species dwell in or near water, all turtles are oviparous,
meaning they lay their eggs on land.

Conclusion:
Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators), Sphenodontia (tuataras), Squamata
(lizards and snakes), and Testudines (Testudines) are the four living orders
that make up the class of reptilia.

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FAQs:
1. What classification level is a reptile?
The classification level of reptiles is ‘class.’ It’s also termed “class Reptilia.”

2. How many orders of reptiles are there?

Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators),
Sphenodontia (tuataras),
Squamata (lizards and snakes), and
Testudines

3. What are the 5 characteristics of reptiles?

Reptiles are four-legged vertebrate animals.
The majority of them lay eggs. (oviparous)
Reptiles have scales (or scutes) covering their skin.
Reptiles have cold-blooded metabolisms.
They need their lungs to breathe.

4. What are the main features of reptiles?

The 7 main characteristics of reptiles include:

Dry skin with scales but no feathers (as in birds) or hair (as in mammals)
internal fertilisation
a three- or four-chambered heart
cold-bloodedness
the presence of lungs
direct development, without larval forms as in amphibians
an amniote egg

5. Why are reptiles classified together?

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Reptiles were formerly classed based on their physical characteristics

(morphology): they are ectothermic, have leathery or hard-shelled eggs,
scale-covered skin, and are amniotes. Reptiles, like other vertebrates, have a
bone skeleton to support their body.

6. What best describes a reptile?

Cold-blooded animals are reptiles, and they have scales on their dry skin. And
Reptiles are distinguished from other animals by their dry, rough skin. Reptiles
include snakes, turtles, and crocodiles, to name a few.

8. What are 3 facts about reptiles?

Most reptiles are cold-blooded animals.
Crocodiles are known for sweating through their mouths.
Not all reptiles lay shelled eggs, although the majority do.

9. How do you describe a reptile?

Reptiles are air-breathing animals with scales, bony plates, or a mix of both on
their skin. Crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises are among them.
Reptiles are cold-blooded due to their sluggish metabolism and heat-seeking
habit.

We hope you enjoyed studying this lesson and learned something cool about
Reptiles: Classification! Join our Discord community to get any questions you
may have answered and to engage with other students just like you! Don’t
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Sources:
1. Reptile Classification. https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-biology-
flexbook-2.0/section/12.16/primary/lesson/reptile-classification-bio/.
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Accessed on 6 Dec 2021.

2. Reptilia. https://byjus.com/biology/reptilia/. Accessed on 6 Dec 2021.
3. Reptile. https://www.britannica.com/animal/reptile. Accessed on 6 Dec
2021.
4. Reptile Classification.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology
/Book%3A_Introductory_Biology_(CK-
12)/12%3A_Vertebrates/12.18%3A_Reptile_Classification. Accessed on 6
Dec 2021.

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