There are almost 6000 species of reptiles in five families. The largest group of reptiles is the LIZARDS with about 3000 species. Most lizards are 4-legged, but a few have only 2 legs and others are legless. Lizards live in diverse environments and are the most geographically widespread of the reptiles. In size, lizards can range from 2 inches to 10 feet in length. Only two species, Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards, are venomous.
Many Central Americans love the taste of the common Iguana so much that they call it "gallina del palo" or " chicken of the tree."
Many lizards can change colors in seconds to match their surroundings.
The scaly skin of a lizard made of keatin, the same substance that forms human fingernails.
Lizards have crude third eyes on top of their heads that senses whether it's day or night.
Texas Horned Lizards can squirt blood from their eyes. Some can hit enemies up to 10 feet (3m) away.
Basilisks have amazing running skills. When threatened, these lizards take off on their hind legs, eventually building up enough speed to run on water.
A flying dragon avoids danger by opening two large, winglike flaps of skin and gliding from tree to tree.
Some lizards tongues are longer than their entire bodies.
Land tortoises can be found all over the world- in Europe, Africa, Asia and all the Americas even such islands like the Galapagos- But not in Austrailia.
The largest land tortoise in the world- 51 inches(130cm) shell length-is the Aldabra. It lives in the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
Tortoises are in danger from Hyenas. They can bite completely through the tough shell.
Turtles weren't always toothless; Some ancient fossils have teeth.
Leatherback turtles at 3000 pounds(1361 kg) are the largest living turtles.
Some turtles lay their eggs in a gators nest (when she's not looking, of course!) and it does not seem to bother the gator.
The King Cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world at 16ft(5m), with a head as large as a man's hand- and it's also the most intelligent.
In some sea snakes, the lung runs almost the entire length of the snake!
Some sea snakes return to land to mate, and all lay their eggs on land. Reptile eggs can't be laid in water, they'll drown.
When a sidewinder is cold, it can turn it's body a darker hue so it absorbs more heat.
Snakes don't have to open their mouth to flick their tongues. They have a notch in the upper lip to put it through!
Female snakes are almost always longer than males.
A completely severed snake head can still bite a half hour later!
Some snakes have 400 vertebre- humans only have only 33!
One group of rattlers that live on an island in the Gulf of California with no population of large animals, have lost their rattles.
Rattlers coil clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
Rattle snakes don't always rattle before striking, but when their annoyed they may rattle for hours.
Snakes have no movable eyelids or external ears.
Snakes are the world's most effective natural control on rodent population.
Most snakes can swallow prey that is 3 times or more their own body diameter.
You can't tell the age of a rattlesnake by counting it's rattles because it gets a new rattle each time it shed's it's skin, which can occur 1 to 6 times per year.
Common Cobra venom is not on the list of top 10 venoms yet it is still 40 times more toxic than cyanide.
Scientists call the ability to cast off an uneeded body part "Autotomy"
Autotomy is common in invertebrates, such as lobsters and insects, but not often seen in creatures with a back bone. Most lizards, but only a few others (some rodents and salamanders) have mastered this trick.
Tuataras have two rows of teeth on the top, and the single bottom row fits right in between.
Molting can take minutes, half hour, or even days.
