Reptiles
Reptiles are air-breathing, cold-blooded vertebrates that are covered in scales, soft bony plates or a mix of the two. Reptiles live on land and all shed the outer layer of skin.
Crocodiles, alligators, turtles, snakes, lizards and slow worms are all reptiles. The metabolism of all reptile species is controlled by temperature with reptiles preferring a warm, dry climate. Environment temperature also dictates how active they are and affects reproduction.
UK species
There are six native species of reptile in the UK: three snakes (grass, smooth and adder) and three lizards (common, sand and slow worm). There are also a few introduced non-native species.