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HowStuffWorks Life Science Guide  Tags: science howstuffworks animal animals animal_facts animal_information evolution life_science science_explanations cells plants biology ecology conservation genetics heredity humans anatomy botany atoms biodiversity biomes  

From the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, Life Science explores the origins, evolution and expansion of life in all its forms. Explore a wide range of topics from animal profiles to genetics and human Biology.
Last update: Nov 18th, 2008 URL: http://hsw.libguides.com/lifescience-guide  Print Guide  RSS Updates

Amphibians & Reptiles             Print Page
  
 

Amphibians

Amphibians are cold-blooded animals that usually split their time between using their lungs on land and breathing with gills underwater. 

 

Lizards

Lizards usually have a small head, a short neck and a long tail. There are more than 4,600 species of lizards including iguanas, chameleons, geckos and gila monsters, among others.

 
 

Alligators & Crocodiles

Alligators and Crocodiles are reptilian relatives but are distinguished by the width of the snout. Alligators have fatter, rounder snouts than crocodiles.

  • Image Gallery: Alligators  
      
    View amazing photos of different types of alligators with this image gallery.
  • Quiz Yourself: Alligators  
      
    Lurking in southern swamps from the Carolinas to Louisiana, alligators' place in folklore is both well-established and well-deserved. Get too close to one, and you'll find that their predatory abilities are no tall tale. What makes them so dangerous?
  • How Alligators Work  
      
    Alligators are amazing animals that have been around for millions of years. These fearsome creatures are expert predators at the top of the food chain.
  • Alligator  
      
    An Alligator is a large reptile that inhabits swamps, rivers, lakes, and marshes.
  • Caiman  
      
    A Caiman is a four-legged reptile that is from the alligator family.
  • Crocodile  
      
    A crocodile is the largest type of living reptiles.
  • Gavial  
      
    A gavial is a large reptile related to the crocodile.
  • The Gator Grab (Video)  
      
    Jeff Corwin, star of Animal Planet's hit show, the Jeff Corwin Experience, gets into a sticky spot with an American alligator.
  • Crocodile Tears are Real (Video)  
      
    Watch this video from the University of Florida explaining that the term "crocodile tears" is actually true - crocodiles and alligators do cry. UF researchers observed that the reptiles closed their eyes before chomping and lubricated their eyes.
  • Friendly Crocodile (Video)  
      
    Watch this video about friendly crocodiles on HowStuffWorks. Taiwanese crocodile expert and zoo owner, Chiu Hsi-he, showcases his enormous but docile crocs; he brushes their teeth, feeds them by hand and even gives them a little tickle.
  • Bellowing Beasts (Beasts)  
      
    Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet's popular show, The Jeff Corwin Experience, wades into a river full of bellowing alligators.
 

Snakes

Snakes have a long, flexible body that is covered with dry scales. Snakes flick their forked tongues to bring in odors to their sensory glands.

  • How Snakes Work  
      
    A snake can swallow an animal that’s twice as big as its own head -- and swallow it whole. Snakes are amazing creatures with some astonishing capabilities. Did you know that a few of them can even fly? Learn how snakes get around, how they kill and eat
  • Adder  
      
    Adder is the name of several different snakes found in North America.
  • Anaconda  
      
    The anaconda is a large water snake that kills its prey by squeezing it to death.
  • Asp  
      
    An asp is the name applied to several different types of poisonous snakes.
  • Cobra  
      
    The cobra is a common type of poisonous snakes in Africa and southern Asia.
  • Copperhead  
      
    A copperhead is a poisonous snake related to the rattlesnake and the water moccasin.
  • Coral Snake  
      
    A coral snake is a small poisonous snake.
  • Garter Snake  
      
    A garter snake is a harmless snake found in North America.
  • Moccasin  
      
    The moccasin is a poisonous snake related to the copperhead and rattlesnake.
  • Python  
      
    The python is a large tropical snake from Asia and Africa.
  • Rattlesnake  
      
    The rattlesnake is a venomous snake that has a rattle at the end of its tail.
  • Venemous Snakes  
      
    Several types of snakes contain venom and can be poisonous to humans.
  • Viper  
      
    The viper is a poisonous snake.
  • Boa Constrictor  
      
    The boa constrictor is a large American snake related to the anaconda.
  • Will a Snake Bite You? (Video)  
      
    What are the odds you will survive a snakebite?
  • World's Deadliest Snakes (Video)  
      
    Watch this episode of Eco Geeks about deadly snakes on HowStuffWorks. Figuring out the world's deadliest snake is hard to pin down because so many factors are at play.
  • Poisonous Sea Snakes (Video)  
      
    Whenever working with a venomous snake, divers must take extra precautions to protect themselves from these aggressive animals.
  • Horned Viper Snake (Video)  
      
    While trekking over the sun-baked dunes of Morocco, Animal Planet star Jeff Corwin discovers a deadly desert horned viper snake.
  • Green Tree Python (Video)  
      
    Learn about the green tree python.
  • Getting Venom from a King Cobra (Video)  
      
    On Discovery Channel's series, "Hazard Pay," host Curt Doussett tries to handle a 12ft. King Cobra snake, after working as a venom extractor.
  • Spectacled Cobra (Video)  
      
    Animal Planet's Austin Stevens captures an extremely agitated spectacled cobra on camera and nearly gets bitten in the process.
  • Amethystine Python (Video)  
      
    Austin Stevens, star of Animal Planet's hit show Austin Stevens: Snakemaster, becomes entangled with a fourteen foot amethystine python and nearly gets strangled.
 

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