Different Reptiles

Crocodiles

• Crocodiles are a member of the Crocodilia order, one of the four orders of modern reptiles. Crocodiles are the largest living reptiles and are notable because they have ancestors that date back more than 240 million years. There are 23 different species, with 17 of them being endangered.

  The crocodile has very long jaws, a streamlined body and tail, and a protective armor. Many experts believe that the crocodile is so well adapted to the aquatic lifestyle and predatory behavior that its overall appearance has not changed in the last 100 million years. Crocodiles will eat any food that will fit in their mouth, including pigs, birds, other reptiles, turtles, wallabies and in some instances, even other crocodiles.

Alligators

• Alligators are also a member of the Crocodilia order, and though they are often confused with crocodiles, they are quite different. Alligators have a blunter, rounded snout, and the teeth are almost entirely hidden when their mouth is closed, which distinguishes them from the long, pointy-snouted crocodile. The alligator looks quite like a large lizard, measuring from 9 to 15 feet in length and weighing up to 1,000 pounds.

  Alligators have bones protruding beneath their skin, protecting them like armor. These large reptiles are usually found in fresh waters such as rivers, lakes, swamps and marshes. Alligators are carnivores and feed on other living things such as birds, reptiles, turtles, snakes and anything else that crosses their path.

Green Iguanas

• The green iguana is found in many different regions, but it prefers tropical rainforests and lower altitudes that will provide it fresh water from rivers or streams. Most iguanas spend the majority of their time 40 to 50 feet above the ground in the forest canopy. The adult green iguana will measure somewhere from 4 to 6 feet in length, with the tail accounting for about half the length. The green color of the green iguana varies from individual to individual, ranging from very bright to a dull almost brown-green. The iguana has rough skin with scales along the back.

  The green iguana is an omnivore, so its diet is varied depending on what is available. Iguanas will eat both meat and plants, preferring mostly leaves and fruits but also eating eggs, insects and small vertebrates.

Boa Constrictor

• The boa constrictor is a reptile from the Squamata order and ranges from 20 inches in length as young to 13 feet as an adult. The boa constrictor lives in many different habitats, including deserts, tropical forests and fields in elevations ranging from sea level to more moderate. The boa constrictor is generally found in the regions from Northern Mexico to Argentina.

  The boa constrictor is a carnivore and will feed on lizards, birds, opossums, bats, rats and squirrels. The snake has heat-sensitive scales located on its head that allows it to find its prey with relative ease. In captivity, the boa constrictor will happily feed on chicks, rats and mice.

The Importance of Reptiles

• People are often left to wonder what the importance of reptiles is. Reptiles are important to the ecosystem, because the ones that consume small mammals help to keep a balance in the ecosystem. Those that eat plants help to keep control of plant growth. The purpose of some reptiles is simply to serve as a food source for others. The ecosystems of reptiles would suffer greatly if they all vanished, which is why many reptiles the world over are protected, meaning they cannot be hunted, trapped or sold.