Reptiles: characteristics, breathing, reproduction and classification

You reptiles are groups of vertebrate animals characterized by their thick skin. proportion in the terrestrial environment, unlike amphibians that need a connection with the environment aquatic

Reptile characteristics

Reptiles are part of the phylum of chordates that include amphioxus vertebrates and tunicates, crocodilians are a example of these reptiles in addition to tortoises, turtles, alligators, snakes, lizards, they are all part of the class Reptile. The appearance of reptiles is nothing new, researches show that they appeared more than 350 million years ago, the first reptiles did not have a considerable size reaching even being of small structure, as there were not many food options in its food chain, they fed on insects, they were called cotylosaurus, the oldest species in the class.

There are more than 7,000 species existing in the world, and in Brazil, our great Brazil of diversity, there are more than 180 species found in the cerrado and beyond, unfortunately more than 22 reptile species are threatened by extinction.

All animals in this class have in common a thick impermeable layer of skin and a large amount of keratin in the scales, a very resistant skin type that prevents water loss, thus avoiding dehydration of these animals, they are usually found in dry environments, this layer of skin is formed by the dermis epidermis. The skeletal physical structure of reptiles like the skull allows them to move faster. in the terrestrial environment, this possibility guarantees greater survival, hunting, and protection from other animals.

The reptiles are mostly carnivores, mouth structure with strong jaws, efficient teeth that capture prey with ease.

BREATHING, TEMPERATURE AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Another very nice feature of reptiles is the resistant and efficient lungs, just because of this fact they manage to extract oxygen from the atmosphere for its own use, taking it inside the cell, called cellular respiration, it also performs important gas exchanges with the environment.

They are considered ectothermic, as it maintains the temperature using external factors, through the sun, for this fact they are called cold-blooded animals

Reptiles have dual circulation, blood passes through the heart twice to complete the complete circuit. The hearts of reptiles are formed according to the group that is inserted, for example, the crocodilians contains two atria and two ventricles, non-crocodilians have two atria and only one ventricle

SURVIVAL

For the survival of these terrestrial beings they have uric acid, which is a less toxic substance than ammonia, sparingly soluble in water, that is, it needs little water to eliminate the acid uric.

It has the organ called the Jacobson Organ, it has a great olfactory function, great ability to capture odors for its protection.

REPRODUCTION

In terms of reproduction, it has the amniotic egg, this egg allows embryos to develop outside the extra-embryonic structure enabling development on dry land without the presence of Water. See some important points of reproduction

• Fertilization takes place internally and directly through the male's copulatory organ that introduces the sperm in the female, more specifically in the cloaca, a kind of channel that receives the sperm.
• The eggs are protected by a flexible shell, like turtles, snakes, while the eggs of crocodiles, tortoises, and other lizards have a rigid shell in their structure.
• These eggs need to have enough nutrients and substances for the embryo to develop.
• With growth, structures called embryonic attachments are formed, there are 3 structures in total, such as amnion, yolk sac and finally allantois, important structures for the protection of the ovum and the embryo.

REPTEL CLASSIFICATION

They can be classified into Squamata, Chelonia, Crocodilia, Rhynchocephalia:

Squamata: Body covered by scales, such as snakes and lizards, this type of classification has different species.

Chelonia: They can also be called testunides, the species in this group are turtles, tortoises, tortoises,

Crocodilia: The species in this group are crocodiles and alligators, usually they can be located in warm temperature regions, such as in lakes, rivers, some species can rarely be found in the sea

Rhynchocephalia: These are species that do not exist anywhere else in the world, only in New Zealand, they are known as tuatara, unfortunately some of these species have become extinct from their habitat,

Reptiles are of great importance in your terrestrial experience, they are rich animals in all their structure and survival, they are of great importance for the environmental balance.

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