Vertebrates - Reptiles worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to solve this worksheet about reptiles.

We have two columns:
- CHARACTERISTICS: We need to select ALL that apply to reptiles.
- EXAMPLES: We need to select ALL animals shown that are reptiles.

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Step 1: Know what defines a reptile

Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates. That means they don’t make their own body heat — they get it from the sun or environment.

They breathe with lungs (not gills — fish use gills).

Their skin is dry and covered in scales or scutes (like on turtles).

Most lay eggs with hard shells, and they lay them on land (not in water like frogs).

Most reptiles have four legs — but snakes are an exception (they lost their legs over time). Still, “most have four legs” is true for the group.

Warm-blooded? No — that’s birds and mammals.

Moist skin? No — that’s amphibians like frogs.

Breathe through gills? No — again, that’s fish or baby amphibians.

Lay soft-shelled eggs? Some do (like some lizards), but MOST reptiles lay hard-shelled eggs — so we pick “most lay hard-shelled eggs”.

Lay eggs in water? No — reptiles lay eggs on land. Amphibians lay eggs in water.

So correct characteristics:

✔ Are cold-blooded
✔ They breathe through lungs
✔ Have dry skin
✔ Have scales/scutes
✔ Most lay hard-shelled eggs
✔ Most have four legs
✔ Lay their eggs on land

Wrong ones:

✘ Are warm-blooded → no
Breathe through gills → no
✘ Have moist skin → no
✘ Most lay soft-shelled eggs → not most; hard-shelled is more accurate
✘ Lay eggs in water → no

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Step 2: Look at the animal pictures and decide which are reptiles

From top to bottom:

1. Chameleon → lizard → ✔ REPTILE
2. Salamander → looks like a newt → ✘ AMPHIBIAN (moist skin, lives near water)
3. Snake → ✔ REPTILE (even though no legs, still a reptile)
4. Turtle/Tortoise → ✔ REPTILE (has shell/scutes, lays eggs on land)
5. Frog → ✘ AMPHIBIAN (moist skin, lays eggs in water)
6. Crocodile/Alligator → ✔ REPTILE

So reptiles in the picture: Chameleon, Snake, Turtle, Crocodile → 4 total

Amphibians: Salamander, Frog → not reptiles

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Final Check:

Characteristics selected:
- Cold-blooded ✔️
- Breathe through lungs ✔️
- Dry skin ✔️
- Scales/scutes ✔️
- Most lay hard-shelled eggs ✔️
- Most have four legs ✔️ (snakes are exception, but “most” is correct)
- Lay eggs on land ✔️

Examples selected:
- Chameleon ✔️
- Snake ✔️
- Turtle ✔️
- Crocodile ✔️

Not selected:
- Salamander ✘ (amphibian)
- Frog ✘ (amphibian)

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Final Answer:

Characteristics of Reptiles (select these):
- Are cold-blooded
- They breathe through lungs
- Have dry skin
- Have scales/scutes
- Most lay hard-shelled eggs
- Most have four legs
- Lay their eggs on land

Reptiles (select these animals):
- Chameleon
- Snake
- Turtle
- Crocodile