Reptile Awareness Day
October 21, 2016
Reptile Awareness Day is observed every year on October 21 to promote education, conservation and appreciation for reptiles. The day is created to bring awareness and to learn about their natural habitats and the ecological threats they are facing.
A reptile is a cold blooded vertebrae with dry and scaly skin and usually lay soft-shelled eggs on dry land.
Reptiles are believed to have evolved around 320 million years ago.
There are more than 10,000 species of reptiles which live on every continent except Antarctica.
Reptiles are vertebrates (which means they have backbones).
They are ectothermic or cold-blooded which means reptiles cannot maintain their body temperature. So they have to depend sunlight to keep them warm and need shady places to make them cool.
Reptiles are classified into four categories and they are
- Crocodilia: (23 species) which includes crocodiles, alligators, gharials and caimans.
- Sphenodontia: (2 species) tuataras which is native to New Zealand.
- Squamada: (7900 species) which includes snakes, lizards and amphisbaenids.
- Testudines: (300 species) which includes turtles and tortoises.
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