Select the one animal that has all of the reptile traits listed above.
Burmese pythons hatch from eggs with shells. They can grow to over 12 feet long! Their scaly, waterproof skin is brown and black. California newts have moist, smooth skin that is brown and orange. Their eggs have no shells, but they are protected by a poisonous gel. Young California newts live in shallow pools or streams. Adult newts live mostly on land.
Reptiles are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify reptiles:
They have scaly, waterproof skin.
They make eggs with shells. Observe the animals and read the descriptions.
Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live.
How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group.
To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group.
Reptiles have the following traits:
They have scaly, waterproof skin.
They make eggs with shells.
Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits.
A Burmese python has the following traits:
It has scaly, waterproof skin.
It makes eggs with shells.
A Burmese python has the traits of a reptile. A Burmese python is a reptile.
A California newt has the following traits:
It spends part of its life in water and part on land.
It has moist skin.
It makes eggs with no shells.
A California newt does not have all of the traits of a reptile. A California newt is an amphibian.