Updated November 22, 2019
By Meredyth Glass
Reptiles evolved from amphibians 350 million years ago. When they emerged from the water, reptiles developed several adaptations allowing them to thrive in every environment except the arctic tundra. These adaptations allowed the dinosaurs to rapidly spread over the Earth and smaller reptiles, including turtles, alligators, snakes and lizards, to continue to thrive and evolve after the dinosaurs' extinction.
The Need for Water Conservation Adaptations
Many reptiles live in dry areas where finding adequate drinking water is difficult. Water is essential to cellular function, and therefore to health. Cells shrivel and die without enough water. Reptile adaptations allow them to get most, if not all, of the water they need from the food that they eat. Specifically, changes in how reptiles reproduce, dry scaly skin and highly efficient kidneys all allow reptiles to thrive with very little water.
Reptile Skin
Amphibians, such as frogs, have wet skin and are dependent on constant access to water to keep their bodies from drying out. The reptile’s dry skin is a key evolutionary shift from their amphibian ancestors. This adaptation has allowed them to move into very dry habitats. Reptile skin is a solid sheet of keratin scales. Keratin is the same substance as human hair and nails. This makes it waterproof and prevents the reptile’s internal fluids from evaporating.
Reptile Kidneys
Reptiles are able to conserve much of their body’s water because their kidneys are very efficient. A reptile’s kidneys are specially adapted to concentrate the body’s waste products into uric acid. Once the wastes are collected and converted, the reptile is able to reabsorb most of the liquid used in the process. Elimination also requires very little fluid because the waste is concentrated into tiny, semisolid bundles of uric acid that don’t absorb liquid and need very little fluid to be flushed from the body.
Reptile Eggs and Fertilization
Unlike their amphibious ancestors, reptile fertilization is internal and does not require water. Once fertilized, reptile eggs are specially adapted to conserve water. The embryo is enclosed in a fluid filled sac, surrounded by three outer layers specially designed to balance the embryo’s needs for water and respiration. Some reptiles lay their eggs, others give birth to live young. Keeping the eggs inside the body prevents them from retaining too much water as sometimes happens with externally developing eggs. Too much water is as harmful as too little because cellular needs are very exact.
FAQs
Short Answer. Reptiles are adapted to dry terrestrial environments through their dry, scaly skin made of keratin, which reduces water loss and prevents desiccation. They lay amniotic eggs with protective shells to retain moisture, utilize internal fertilization, and have fully developed lungs for efficient respiration.
What are 3 adaptations reptiles have for survival? ›
Tough, Well- scaly skin is one adaptation to this type of life. developed lungs; a double-loop circulatory system; a water-conserving excretory system; strong limbs; inter- nal fertilization; and shelled, terrestrial eggs are the other adaptations that have contributed to the success of reptiles on land.
How do reptiles preserve water? ›
Reptiles are able to conserve much of their body's water because their kidneys are very efficient. A reptile's kidneys are specially adapted to concentrate the body's waste products into uric acid. Once the wastes are collected and converted, the reptile is able to reabsorb most of the liquid used in the process.
What aquatic adaptations do reptiles have? ›
Despite the striking differences in body shapes between nonavian reptiles, aquatic members of all groups have modified their bodies to take on more streamlined shapes. Valved or protruding nostrils and piscivorous feeding habits are commonly observed across all aquatic nonavian reptile clades.
Which is an adaptation that helps reptiles hold water in their bodies? ›
Scales. If you look up close at a reptile, you will notice it is covered in thick skin with scales of different sizes. Reptiles adapted scales to help minimize water loss from their bodies and help protect them from predators.
What are the 3 main adaptations? ›
There are three different types of adaptations:
- Behavioural. - responses made by an organism that help it to survive/reproduce.
- Physiological - a body process that helps an organism to survive/reproduce.
- Structural. - a feature of an organism's body that helps it to survive/reproduce.
Amphibians and reptiles contributed directly and indirectly to the four types of ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting.
How do lizards adapt to water? ›
Lizards that live in water often have built in flippers! Their hands and feet are webbed, meaning they have skin between the fingers, to help them swim fast.
What are 2 adaptations that reptiles have to allow them to survive in dry climates? ›
Answer and Explanation:
- Reptiles have thick, scaly skin that allows them to conserve moisture content within their bodies for their survival on dry land.
- By laying eggs coated with thick, leathery, or hard calcium shells, reptiles ensure the survival of their offspring in hot and dry areas.
Like birds, marine reptiles have several adaptations which allow them to live and feed in and around the sea. Reptiles have a dry, scaly skin that protects against water loss. Marine reptiles also have salt glands, to help the body deal with the excess salt from the marine environment.
For example, reptiles have scales that prevent water loss, while mammals have fur and sweat glands that help regulate body temperature and conserve water. Another adaptation is efficient kidneys, which allow animals to excrete waste without losing too much water.
What adaptations help them to survive in water? ›
Adaptations to Aquatic Environments
- Spongy Tissue in Stems and Leaves. Spongy tissue helps the plant move the oxygen in the air down to the roots.
- Floating, Horizontal Leaves. Horizontal leaves that float on the surface of the water expose as much of the leaf surface as possible to the sun. ...
- Emergent Leaves.
Kangaroo rats can get all their water requirements from eating seeds. The reason they can do this is an adaptation in their kidneys called the loop of Henle. All mammals have a loop of Henlee.
What are 3 special characteristics of reptiles? ›
reptile, Any of the approximately 8,700 species of the class Reptilia, the group of air-breathing vertebrates that have internal fertilization and a scaly body and are cold-blooded. Most species have short legs (or none) and long tails, and most lay eggs.
What are the three adaptations for survival? ›
Adaptations are unique characteristics that allow animals to survive in their environment. There are three types of adaptations: structural, physiological, and behavioral.
What do reptiles do to survive? ›
Adaptations such as brumation, viviparous reproduction, and efficient heat transfer systems are just a few of the things that can help amphibians and reptiles survive in cold or variable climates.
