Vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Analyze the common characteristics of reptiles and explain how they differ from mammals.
Reptiles are a group of vertebrates characterized by several common features, including:
1. Skin: Reptiles have dry, scaly skin that helps prevent water loss and provides protection. Mammals have fur or hair covering their bodies.
2. Eggs: Reptiles lay eggs with leathery shells, while mammals give birth to live young.
3. Respiration: Most reptiles breathe through lungs, while some species, like snakes, can also breathe through their skin. Mammals breathe exclusively through lungs.
4. Body temperature regulation: Reptiles are ectothermic, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. In contrast, mammals are endothermic, capable of regulating their own body temperature internally.
5. Reproduction: Reptiles lay eggs, and do not provide parental care to their offspring once they are born. Mammals give live birth and typically provide parental care to their young.
Overall, reptiles and mammals differ in their skin covering, method of reproduction, respiration, body temperature regulation, and parental care.