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Crawling animals are called reptiles, which also show a series of characteristics in common. The word reptile comes from the term creep, which means to move by crawling on the ground. Some examples are: turtle, crocodile, alligator.
Reptiles are animals vertebrates with scales composed of keratin. Most of them are adapted to terrestrial life, however some also live in water. The vast majority are carnivores. They have breath pulmonary and a double-circuit circulatory system.
Some reptiles manage to move without legs, like snakes. The locomotion of snakes depends on various methods, depending on the species and the moment. For example, when a snake is about to attack, it cordons off and uses its energy to move quickly forward in a way that surprises its prey.
Reptiles are ectothermic, that is, they depend on environmental conditions to maintain their temperature. For this reason, in general each species of reptile belongs to environments with very similar characteristics, since they can only survive within a certain range of temperatures. Reproduction is internal, that is, the male deposits the sperm inside the female's body.
Examples of crawling animals
- Chameleon: there are approximately 160 species. They are characterized by their ability to change color depending on where they are. Chameleons are reptile predators of worms, grasshoppers, locusts, flies, and other insects. They manage to hunt them thanks to their great visual acuity, which allows them to detect even the smallest movements.
- Crocodile: Its 14 different species are found in Africa, Asia, America and Australia. Although it is a terrestrial animal, it congregates in freshwater habitats (rivers, lakes, and wetlands). To achieve the body temperature you need, as soon as the sun rises it remains motionless in a clear area of land, to receive its heat.
- Komodo dragon: Sauropsid that lives in islands of central Indonesia. It is the largest lizard that exists. Its average length is between two and three meters. Its average weight is 70 kg. Juveniles are green with areas of other shades such as yellow and black, while adults have a uniform shade of brown or greyish red.
- Gecko: Reptile that inhabits all the warm zones of the world. It has eyes and feet larger in relation to its body than other reptiles. It exists in various shapes, colors, and sizes. They are usually camouflaged with their natural environment.
- AlligatorAlso called alligator, it is a genus of crocodile. It lives in subtropical and tropical areas of America. They were hunted for a long time to use their leather. Today they are protected species and their slaughter is only allowed in hatcheries.
- Green Anaconda: Snake of South America, of an approximate length of 4 meters and a half the females and three meters the males. It is a constricting snake, that is, it uses strangulation to kill its prey.
- Desert iguana: (Dipsosaurus dorsalis): It is very numerous in the deserts of Sonora and Majove (United States and northwestern Mexico). The color of each individual affects the ability to obtain the necessary heat from the sun's rays: dark-colored individuals absorb 73% of visible light and therefore of the sun's heat. Light-colored individuals absorb only 58% of visible light. One of its methods of stabilizing body temperature is the regulation of peripheral blood flow: the vessels contract and therefore decrease the heat exchange, or they dilate (increase in size) so that the heat exchange increases. .
- Green lizard: Species of lizard (reptile) of the Teiidae family. It is located in an ecozone that spans the Argentine, Bolivian and Paraguayan Chaco. It can reach 40 cm long. It is characterized by having only four toes, unlike all other Teiidae reptiles, which have five.
- Piton: Constrictor snake. It is not a poisonous snake, but they kill their prey by suffocation, after holding it with their powerful jaw.
- Coral snake: Venomous snake that lives in tropical areas. It is characterized by its intense yellow, red and black colors.
- Turtle: It is characterized by having a wide and short trunk, with a shell that protects it. Its spine is welded to the shell. They do not have teeth but they do have a horny beak similar to the beak of birds. Although they shed their skin, it cannot be perceived as easily as when snakes do, as turtles shed little by little. They do not incubate their eggs but instead place them where they can get solar heat.
- Varano: Large lizard with a small head and long neck, which has a thick body, sturdy legs, and a long, strong tail. There are 79 living species, which are protected. The giant monitor, also called Perentie, can grow to eight feet long.
- It can serve you:Migrating animals
