Reptiles, a class of cold-blooded vertebrates, encompass snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators, recognized for their dry, scaly skin and predominantly soft-shelled egg reproduction, though some species bear live young. Unlike mammals and birds, reptiles rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature, primarily inhabiting warm climates but adapting to temperate zones. The class is organized into four main orders: Squamata (snakes and lizards), Testudines (turtles and tortoises), Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators), and Rhynchocephalia, the latter including the unique tuatara from New Zealand. Serving roles from apex predators like large crocodiles to insectivorous geckos, reptiles exhibit diverse survival adaptations, such as enduring long periods without food or water, making them successful across global habitats and crucial to biodiversity and ecological research.
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