What is a turtle?
A turtle is a reptile that has plates called scales and a hard shell to protect them. They lay eggs like a bird and bury these eggs in the sand or dirt to keep them safe and warm. Mothers do not help to rear their offspring after they hatch, so they are left to fend for themselves. Many baby turtles dont make it through their first year, as they are easily caught by many other animals. Turtles are cold-blooded, which means they cannot produce heat inside their bodies. They must bathe in the sun to get warm and retreat to the shade to cool off. A turtles shell is attached to his backbone and made of bone. At The Nature of Things we have many different kinds of turtles in our reptile room. What is a snake? Snakes are a part of the group called reptiles. Reptiles are unique because they have scales (small, hard protective plates on their skin), are cold-blooded and usually lay eggs. Snakes do not have legs, ears, or eyelids. They use their tongue to smell and hear vibrations around them.
