What is a reptile and how is it different from an amphibian?
Quick Answer
A reptile is a cold-blooded vertebrate with dry, scaly skin, while an amphibian usually has moist skin and often lives both in water and on land during its life cycle.
The Full Story
Reptiles include animals such as snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians and tuatara. Most have scaly skin that helps reduce water loss, and they generally lay amniotic eggs or give birth to live young. Amphibians such as frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians usually have permeable skin that must stay moist, and many begin life as aquatic larvae before metamorphosing into adults. Both groups are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate body temperature, but they differ strongly in skin type, reproduction and development.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Dry scales versus moist skin: the simplest way to tell reptiles and amphibians apart"
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