 | Quick Facts |  |
|  | Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
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Class Reptilia
Crocodilians (4)
Snakes & Lizards (7)
Turtles & Tortoises (2)
Reptiles are a highly successful group of 6,547 different species. Since reptiles are cold blooded, they do not need to consume as much food to maintain a body temperature. This gives them a great advantage over warm-blooded mammals, especially in desert areas where vegetation can be sparse. Reptiles can be distinguished from amphibians by their scaly skin. In addition, reptiles either lay eggs or give birth to live babies. They do not have the larval stage like amphibians (the frog has the tadpole stage).
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