Class Reptilia (non-Avian) (Phylum Chordata)
Examples and Traits
Class reptilia has recently been changed to include Class Aves, the birds, because Class Aves shares ancestors (the dinosaurs) with reptiles. The non-avian reptiles consist of lizards, snakes, crocodiles, alligators etc. They have thick, dry skin. Their legs are underneath their bodies. They have well developed lungs. They are not reliant on water for reproduction, and have amniotic eggs. They are ectothermic, meaning that their body temperature is regulated by their surroundings. They have a circulatory system that is similar to amphibians, with two atria and one ventricle. There is a division to prevent mixing of blood in the ventricle. They have well developed sensory organs. They have Jacobson's organs, which aid in smell. They reproduce through internal fertilization. The different groups/orders are the lizards and snakes, the turtles, the crocodiles and alligators, and the tuataras.