Reptiles and Mammals

There are several types of animals that can be found all over the world. Two of the largest kinds of animals are reptiles and mammals. Both types of animals live together in different habitats even though there are several differences between them.

Reptiles include turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodiles, and alligators. Snakes are also reptiles even though a few of them do not lay eggs. Some of the dinosaurs were also reptiles like the T-Rex or Tyrannosaurus Rex. Reptiles can usually be found on land, but some of them spend a lot of time in the water, too.

People are mammals. Other mammals include dogs, bears, apes, rabbits, dolphins, whales, and about 4,000 other species. Rodents, which includes beavers, mice, and other small animals, are the largest group of mammals. The bat is the only mammal that can fly. Some mammals only eat meat or plants, others eat both.

There are some characteristics reptiles and mammals share. First, they both have lived on the Earth for millions of years. Next, both reptiles and mammals breathe in oxygen to survive. Third, both types of animals are vertebrates.

Vertebrates are animals with a skeleton inside their bodies, including a backbone. Fish are another example of a type of animal classified as a vertebrate.

Fourth, all reptiles and mammals have the same organs which include the brain, heart, stomach, lungs, and a few others. The final characteristic the animals share is having four limbs, either all legs or two arms and two legs.

Though there are several characteristics reptiles and mammals share, there are many more differences. Most reptiles lay eggs in order to produce their young. Mammals, on the other hand, give birth to living offspring. When the newborn of a reptile is born, it can live on its own. However, when a newborn of a mammal is born it must be cared for by the parent. In addition, newborn reptiles look like the parent, but newborn mammals do not resemble the parent.

Another big difference is the outside covering of their bodies. Reptiles are covered in scales for protection, and mammals are covered in hair or fur. Finally, reptiles are cold-blooded animals. Cold-blooded means they cannot control their body temperature, but must use the sun for heat. A reptile's body temperature is usually the same as the air temperature. Mammals are warm-blooded. Warm-blooded means they can control their body temperature and produce heat. No matter what the temperature is, a mammal's body temperature will stay the same.

There are also a few interesting facts about mammals and reptiles. Reptiles shed their skin as they grow, and many of the m have claws on their feet. The largest mammal is the blue whale, which can be 100 feet long and weigh 300,000 pounds. Some reptiles and mammals hibernate during the winter months.

In summary, reptiles and mammals can live together throughout the world even though there are many differences between them. On the other hand, they have some interesting differences between them. Two of the biggest differences include the covering on their bodies, and reptiles are cold-blooded, and mammals are war-blooded.