Robb's On-line Multimedia Database of Animals & Plants
Class Reptilia (Reptiles)
Source: Microsoft® Encarta® 96 Encyclopedia
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Knapp, Robbin D. 1997.
"Class Reptilia (Reptiles)".
In Robb's Online Multimedia Database of Animals and Plants.
Oct. 19, 1997.
Some Orders of the Class Reptilia (Reptiles)
23 in all
- Ichthyosauria extinct: "fish lizards", large marine reptiles that had fishlike bodies and paddlelike limbs
- Sauropterygia extinct: "lizard-winged", long-necked aquatic reptiles that had paddle-shaped limbs adapted for moving through water
- Saurischia extinct: "lizard-hipped" dinosaurs
- Ornithiscia extinct: "bird-hipped" dinosaurs
- Pterosauria extinct: "winged lizards", flying reptiles related to dinosaurs
- Therapsida extinct: advanced mammal-like reptiles
- Squamata: the largest order of living reptiles, containing more than 5000 species of lizards and snakes, sometimes considered a subclass
- Lacertilia: lizards (2500 species)
- Serpentes: snakes (about 2500 species)
- Chelonia (Testudines, Testudinata): already differentiated from other reptiles in the Triassic period, today comprising the turtles and tortoises (nearly 250 species), sometimes considered the subclass Testudinata
Suborders (sometimes considered orders):
- Amphichelydia: extinct
- Cryptodira: pull their heads into the shell in an s-shaped curve of the neck
- Pleurodira: side-necked turtles, freshwater species that hide their heads by bending the neck sideways
- Crocodilia (Crocodilians): first evolved in the late Triassic period, the closest living relatives of dinosaurs and birds, the crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gavials (22 species)
- Rhynchocephalia (beakheads): lizardlike reptiles which are differentiated from the lizards by osteological characteristics (differences in the bones) (2 species)
Chews on funny ginger snaps.
- Aichele, Schwegler, Zahradnik & Cihar. 1985. Goldener Kosmos-Tier- und Pflanzenführer. Frankh: Stuttgart. 779 pp.
- Blum, Joachim. 1978. Die Reptilien and Amphibien Europas. Hallwag: Bern. 64 pp.
- Fisher, G. Clyde (Ed.). 1927. The One Volume Nature Encyclopedia. W W Norton: New York. 940 pp.
- Microsoft Corporation. 1996. Microsoft® Encarta® 96 Encyclopedia.
- Wilson, Pamala. 1994. "Sea Turtle". Sea World.