Are Snakes Reptiles or Amphibians?
Snakes are a mysterious and diverse family of animals, but whether they are reptiles or amphibians is often confusing. To truly answer this question, you need to understand a bit more about the differences between reptiles and amphibians.
Reptiles
Reptiles are a class of animals that include snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. Reptiles generally have the following traits:
- Scales: Reptiles are covered with overlapping scales that act as a protector from predators, water, and injury.
- Ectothermy: Reptiles are “cold-blooded” and rely on external sources of warmth to regulate their body temperature.
- Eggs: Reptiles lay hard-shelled eggs.
Amphibians
Amphibians, like reptiles, are creatures of the class amphibia. They include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Amphibians have the following traits:
- Skin: Amphibians have moist, absorbent skin that helps regulate their body temperature.
- Ectothermy: Amphibians are also “cold-blooded” and rely on external sources of warmth to regulate their body temperature.
- Eggs: Amphibians lay eggs that are typically jelly-like or enclosed in a sac.
Conclusion
Snakes are definitely reptiles, not amphibians. They have scales instead of skin, are ectothermic, and lay hard-shelled eggs. Though they may not look like typical reptiles, like lizards, snakes share many traits with their reptilian cousins.
