Animal Group

Reptile Facts For Kids

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with dry, scaly skin. Most reptiles lay eggs, and most live on land. From tiny geckos to giant crocodiles, reptiles are some of the oldest kinds of animals on Earth!

Quick Reptile Facts

How many kinds?: Over 11,000 known species of reptiles
Body covering: Dry scales or hard shells
Body temperature: Cold-blooded, depends on the sun to stay warm
Babies: Most hatch from soft-shelled eggs; a few are born live
Breathing: Lungs (even sea turtles must come up for air)
Smallest: Brookesia chameleon, smaller than a fingertip
Largest: Saltwater crocodile, can be 20 feet long

Snakes: The Slithering Hunters

Snakes are long, legless reptiles that move by twisting their bodies. They smell with their tongues and swallow their food whole! Some snakes have venom; others squeeze their prey. Most snakes are harmless to people.

Featured animals: Snakes, Cobras, Pythons, Anacondas

Lizards: The Quick Climbers

Lizards have four legs, long tails, and scaly skin. Many lizards can drop their tails to escape from danger! Geckos can walk up walls, and chameleons can change colors.

Featured animals: Lizards, Geckos, Chameleons, Iguanas, Komodo Dragons

Turtles and Tortoises: The Shell Carriers

Turtles and tortoises carry their homes on their backs! Their shells protect them from danger. Turtles live in water or near it; tortoises live on land. Some can live more than 150 years!

Featured animals: Turtles, Tortoises, Sea Turtles

Crocodilians: The Ancient Hunters

Crocodiles, alligators, and gharials are some of the most powerful predators on Earth. They have strong jaws, sharp teeth, and can stay underwater for a long time. Mothers carry their babies in their mouths to keep them safe!

Featured animals: Crocodiles, Alligators, Gharials

Tuataras: The Living Relics

Tuataras look like lizards, but they belong to their own special reptile group. They only live in New Zealand. Tuataras grow very slowly and can live more than 100 years!

Featured animals: Tuataras

Cool Facts About Reptiles!

Some snakes can fly! Paradise tree snakes flatten their bodies and glide between trees, traveling up to 100 feet through the air.
Chameleon tongues are super long! A chameleon's tongue can be twice as long as its body. It shoots out faster than you can blink to grab insects.
Sea turtles return to the same beach! Female sea turtles travel thousands of miles, then come back to lay eggs on the same beach where they were born.
Crocodile mouths are super sensitive! A crocodile's mouth is more sensitive to touch than human fingertips, even though it looks tough.
Geckos cannot blink! Geckos have clear coverings over their eyes. They lick their eyes with their tongues to keep them clean.

Reptile Questions Kids Ask

Are reptiles slimy?

No, reptiles are dry, not slimy! Their scales feel smooth and dry like a leather bag. Frogs and salamanders feel slimy because they are amphibians, not reptiles.

What is the difference between crocodiles and alligators?

Crocodiles have V-shaped snouts and you can see their teeth even when their mouths are closed. Alligators have U-shaped snouts and their teeth hide better. Crocodiles also live in salt water; alligators live in fresh water.

How do snakes eat big animals?

Snakes can stretch their jaws very wide because the two sides of their lower jaw are connected by stretchy tissue, not bone. They can swallow animals bigger than their own heads!

Why do reptiles lie in the sun?

Reptiles are cold-blooded, so their body temperature matches the air around them. They lie in the sun to warm up, then move to shade if they get too hot.

Can turtles leave their shells?

No! A turtle's shell is part of its body. The shell is connected to its spine and ribs. A turtle without its shell would not be able to live.