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Turtles are air-breathing animals, even sea turtles who spend most of their time swimming in the sea. If turtle eggs were laid underwater, the baby turtles might drown when they hatched, before they were able to swim to the surface to get air. Also, even though there are predators on both land and in the water, who like to eat eggs, the rate of predation in the ocean is higher. The eggs are more likely to survive on land.
What else can I help you with?
Do all reptiles have wet smooth skin?
Think about where the reptiles live. Alligators, crocodiles ,caymans,Turtles (marine) , terrapins (freshwater). While those mentioned and some snakes may function in water, their skin may be wet at times but not soft and moist. Snakes (rattlers, copperheads etc.), lizzards may have dry and or softer skins (lizzards- Gila monsters, geckos, skinks). But at no time would the skin be considered soft and moist as an amphibians (frog or salamanders).. Reptiles do not naturally have moist skin if they live on land.
Are reptiles babies born alive or in eggs?
Reptiles are born in eggs. It is part of what makes them reptiles.
Is terrapin a reptile or amphibian?
Turtles are reptiles. They are a branch of the superorder Chelonia and are related to tortoises and terrapins.Ithink what defines an amphipian is it's soft skin whereas reptiles have dry skin with high amounts of keratin.Reptiles also lay eggs with hard shells I think.
What types of eggs do reptiles lay?
Reptile eggs are soft-shelled - as opposed to the calcified shell of a birds egg.
What special type of egg do reptiles have?
Reptile eggs are soft-shelled so that the babies can break out of the shells. Bird eggs are hard-shelled, because baby birds use their beaks to crack the shells of their eggs, but since reptiles don't have beaks to use to break their shells, their eggs have to be soft-shelled.
Is a snake a amfibion?
No, snakes are reptiles - they have scales. Amphibians have a soft, permeable skin.
What is the difference between the majority of reptiles and amphibians?
Reptiles have scales, nearly all lay eggs with hard shells, and breath air. Eg. snakes, lizards and turtles. Amphibians, have smooth skin, lay eggs that are soft and start life as an aquatic juvenile. Examples include frogs, salamanders and caecilians.
How did the first reptiles evolve on earth?
The first reptiles evolved from amphibians about 310-320 million years ago. It is known that amphibians live life in both water and land, but have to return to the water to lay their soft eggs. As amphibians differentiated one group known as reptiliomorph labyrinthodonts became more accustomed to the dry land. They spent more time on land than in water. Eventually they adapted by growing hard, dry skin rather than the soft, wet skin of amphibians. They also adapted by laying hard shelled eggs on land rather than laying soft eggs in the water. The first reptiles were largely overshadowed by the larger amphibians, which were more diverse and dominant prior to the Permian mass extinction. Hylonomus is the oldest-known reptile, and was about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) long. Westlothiana has been suggested as the oldest reptile, but is for the moment considered to be more related to amphibians than amniotes.
Do amphibians and reptiles have soft skin?
depends waht type of mphibian or reptile, usually amphibians have soft skin and depending on the reptile it can be either smooth or hard
Why reptiles lay soft shelled eggs on land?
Reptiles and birds produce eggs that are self-contained so far as liquids are concerned. They have hard or leathery shells that are mostly impermeable to water (although they cannot survive for long if submerged). The shells of amphibians are permeable, and must be in water at least part of the time or they will dry out, causing the embryo to die from dehydration.
Do reptiles have hard shaped eggs?
No, the shells are leathery and soft, making them easier to bury and cover in dirt.
What is the difference between the skin of amphibians and reptiles?
An amphibian is a cold blooded animal that breathes through aquatic gills. An insect is a small arthropod animal that has 6 legs and most have wings.
