What are Amphibians and Reptiles?
WHAT IS AN AMPHIBIAN?
Amphibians are vertebrates (animals with backbones) and four legs. They don't have claws on their toes. They have soft, moist skin. They are cold-blooded. This means they can't make their own heat to keep warm, like birds and mammals can. An amphibian's body is the same temperature as the ground or water where it is.
Amphibians lay eggs that have no shells, but are covered by jelly. Their eggs are laid in water, and the young live and feed in the water. When they grow large enough they change to the adult shape and live on land. Some kinds spend all their lives living in water.
WHAT IS A REPTILE?
Reptiles are vertebrates (animals with backbones) and dry skin covered in scales. Most, except for snakes, have four legs. Reptiles have claws on their toes. They are cold-blooded. They can't make their own heat to keep warm, like birds and mammals. A reptile's body can be the same temperature as the ground or water where it is, but they can use the sun to warm themselves to have a higher body temperature. Snakes and lizards live all their lives on land. Turtles mainly live in water.
Some reptiles lay eggs and some give birth to live young. Reptiles eggs have a soft, leathery shell. Some snakes give birth to live young. Young reptiles look the same as adults, only smaller.
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