Reptiles, Biodiversity of

摘要: Most of the 9300 extant species non-avian reptiles are squamates (lizards and snakes); there only 315 turtles, 23 crocodilians, one rhynchocephalian. Although diversity is greatest in tropics, many occur temperate regions a few have geographic ranges that extend north Arctic Circle. Antarctica continent with no reptiles. Ectothermy, an ancestral character, central to biology reptiles, responsible for their low metabolic rates high efficiency secondary production. Temperature-dependent sex-determination universal widespread among present some lineages squamates. Among lizards, mode predation – sit-and-wait, cruising forager, or widely foraging has strong phylogenetic component correlates elements ecology, morphology, physiology, behavior. Lizards typically eat daily consume small prey items, whereas snakes less frequently larger items relative body size. small, inconspicuous, little obvious economic value, as consequence we lack information about viability populations. Climate change, habitat loss, pollution (including feminizing effects estrogen analogs) affect species, nearly three million snakes, crocodilians consumed by trade hides pets annually. The life histories most large depend on prolonged adult survival reproduction, it unlikely these will long withstand current rate commercial exploitation.