Reptiles and Birds

WELCOME!!

Reptiles have been successful in both terrestrial and marine envionrments. The same characteristics that allowed the ancestors of reptiles to conquer land were also useful in allowing their descendents to return to the sea. The ancestors of modern reptiles first began to appear about 100 million years ago. Modern day retiles include crocodilians, turtles, lizards and snakes all of whioch are represented in the marine environment.

Marine Crocodiles- Salt water crocodiles are large animals that feed mainly on fishes and some have been known to attack and kill sharks.

Sea Turtles- There are 7 species of sea turtles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-07n8lsRUQ

Leatherback

Hawksbill

Kemp's Ridley

Green

Loggerhead

Flatback

Olive Ridley

Marine Iguana- the only marine lizard of the Galapogos Islands .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO_9zm9tsCs here is a video about marine iguanas.

Sea Snakes -There are about 50 species of sea snakes that live in the marine environment.

Seabirds- only about 250 of the approximate 8,500 bird species are adapted for life in and around the ocean.

Shorebirds or waders have long legs for wading and thin sharp bills for finding food in the shallow water and sand.

Gulls are efficent predators and scavengers.

Pelicans are large bodied birds that feed by scooping up large amounts of water with their gular pouch. Boobies, Cormorants, and frigate birds are related to pelicans

Birds known as tubenoses are represented by albatrosses and petrels.

Penguins are the birds most adapted to life at sea. Their streamlined bodies and flippers make them excellent swimmers.

"Sea" you real soon!!