Reptiles - Among the oldest of all creatures

Reptiles arose over 300,000,000 years ago, having evolved from a salamander-like ancestor. They represent a completion of the transition from life in water to a fully terrestrial lifestyle. Waterproof skin and a water-resistant egg means that reptiles can live in places and ways that amphibian can't. There are over 8,700 currently recognized species, a large majority of which belong to the group Squamata, which includes the lizards, snakes, and worm-like amphisbaenians. This is how they are classified:

Sauria: Lizards

Lizards number over 5,000 species and come in a great diversity of body sizes, shapes, and colors. Many are "sexually dimorphic" in which the males, exhibit: brighter colors, larger heads, a more expanded dewlap (throat fan) and larger body sizes than females. In Kenya lizards are common in most parts of the country.

Serpentes: Snakes

The over 3,000 species of snakes descended from lizards and have highly derived characters, such as a jaw that disarticulates to swallow prey larger than its own head. The forked tongue of snakes allows them to sense scents coming from each direction, giving them a stereo sense of smell. Most of the species of snakes can be found at the Nairobi Snake Park, Arabuko Sokoke forest among other forests in Kenya

Chelonia: Turtles

First arising about 215 million years ago, the over 300 species of turtles comprise the oldest lineage of living reptiles. Thus, the evolutionary success of a shell has proven highly adaptive. Tortoises are one type of turtle that are particularly well adapted to life on land. In Kenya you can see these creatures at the Nairobi snake park, Haller Park, Watamu Marine reserve, Malindi and many other places.

Crocodilia: Crocodiles

There are 23 species of crocodilians, represented by crocodiles, alligators, caiman, and gharials. They range throughout the tropics and some into temperate regions. They are characterized by bony scales, water-resistant flaps over the ears, and extended parental care. They have been historically threatened by exploitation for meat and skin. In Kenya they are common at Lake Turkana, river Tana, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and many other places.

Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenians

The 178 species of amphisbaenians represent a highly derived lineage of lizards. Like their amphibian counterparts, the caecilians, they have evolved for a fossorial (underground) lifestyle, most species having lost their legs and most of the functionality of their eyes.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

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