| Reptiles
live on every continent except Antarctica and in all the oceans except
those of the polar regions. They are most abundant in the tropics.
Many kinds of lizards and snakes thrive in deserts. Other reptiles,
such as rat snakes and box turtles live in forests. Still others,
including marine iguanas and sea turtles, spend much of their life
in the ocean. Some sea snakes spend their entire life in the water.
Reptiles are
cold-blooded—that is, their body temperature stays about the
same as the temperature of their surroundings. To stay alive, these
animals must avoid extremely high or low temperatures. Most reptiles
that are active during the day keep moving from sunny places to
shady spots. Many species of reptiles that live in hot climates
are active mainly at night. Reptiles in regions that have harsh
winters hibernate during the winter.
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