Definition of Reptilia: The root of the name “reptile” has it origin in Latin. The word “rept” means “crawled” from the Latin verb “repere” which means “to crawl.” Reptiles are any animals that are cold-blooded and have scales. They are any amniotes (egg-producing animals) that are not birds or mammals.
Some Unique Characteristics of Reptiles: Since most reptiles are based on land, they typically have lungs to breath through, rather than gills or permeable skin. They also have hard scales covering most of their bodies to protect them from the harsh environment in the desert, where they typically live. Reptiles are also cold blooded because their muscle activity is dependant on their blood temperature. Some reptiles, such as the leatherback sea turtle, have thick shells made out of leathery skin, hence the name.