What are some common characteristics of a terrestrial reptile?
BODY TEMPERATURE: In cold-blooded animals, such as reptiles, frogs, and fish, body temperature varies with the surrounding temperature. The temperature of cold-blooded animals is always maintained slightly below the outside temperature. A variable thermal environment is crucial for good health, periods of torpor are acceptable, and frequent feeding is not necessarily imperative. Most reptiles also rely substantially on chemosensory information in dealing with their environments. Since the body temperature of reptiles changes with the temperature of the outside air, they have developed habits to help them control body warmth. On hot afternoons many reptiles can be found in the shade, trying to keep from getting too hot. Different reptiles have different optimum temperatures. This means that each kind of reptile has a particular temperature that it likes best. Summer hibernation is called estivation.Reptiles that live in very hot places often estivate. TONGUES: Many reptiles, but especia
