Types of reptiles

Lis forLizard

Scientific name: suborder: lacertilia

A lizard is any land-dwelling reptile with external ears, and generally with two pairs of legs. There are thousands of kinds of lizard. Generally speaking, something is a lizard if it is a land dwelling reptile and it is not a snake.

Reptiles

Photo by mark roy

Tis forThorny devil

Scientific name: moloch horridus

Thorny devils, also called the thorny dragon, are lizards that live in dry regions in Australia. They grow to around 8 inches long, and can live to 20 years. They eat ants. Their skin has channels in that funnel water to their mouths if they get damp, which allows them to drink morning dew.

Reptiles, Australian

Photo by William Warby

Tis forTortoise

Scientific name: order: testudines

A tortoise is a name given to a land-dwelling turtle. Some kinds of tortoise grow very big, and can live for a very long time - well over 100 years.

Reptiles

Photo by Scot Campbell

Tis forTurtle

Scientific name: order: testudines

Turtles can be found in the sea, in lakes and in rivers. Turtles that live on land are called tortoises. Tortoises usually eat plants, and turtles eat either plants or fish and other water creatures. Some kinds of turtle can grow up to two metres long, although most are smaller. Turtles have a hard shell covering their body, and they can hide their head and legs inside it. They can live for over 100 years. The ancestors of turtles and tortoises have been around since before the dinosaurs. Some kinds of small turtles can be kept as pets.

Reptiles, Pets