Reptiles
Reptiles evolved from tailed amphibian ancestors to dominate the planet for 200 million years. There are nearly 8000 species that are divided into four orders; snakes and lizards, crocodiles and alligators, tortoises and turtles, and tuataras.
A reptile will generally have the following features;
- cold blooded
- dry, scaly skin
- tough shell on eggs
- eggs are laid on land
Reptiles at Wellington Zoo
- blue tongued lizard
- eastern water dragon
- goulds monitor
- green tree gecko
- red eared terrapin
- scree skink
- snake necked turtle
- tuatara
- Jackson's Chameleon
Amphibians
The first amphibians appeared about 370 million years ago and descended from fleshy-finned fish. They were the first back boned animals to colonize land. There are about 5000 species divided into three orders: newts and salamanders, frogs and toads, caecilians.
An amphibian will generally have the following features:
- cold blooded
- slimy scale-less skin
- eggs are soft and laid in water
- young a re gill breathing water animals
- adults have lungs and live on land
- young not cared for by their parents
Amphibians at Wellington Zoo
axolotl
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