Introductory Chapter: General Features of Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptiles (Class Reptilia or Sauropsida) are organisms that have scales on the skin, are amniotes, which have colonized almost all terrestrial and marine environments, originated in the Carboniferous from the amphibians, they have a tricameral or tetracameral (crocodiles) heart, are phylogenetically related to birds (these arose from reptiles), ectotherms, and are characterized by being very efficient in the use of energy. Currently, there are four orders of reptiles with living representatives: Testudines (turtles), Squamata (snakes and lizards), Crocodilia (crocodiles, alligators, and gharials), and Sphenodontia or Rhynchocephalia (tuataras), of which there are only two species in New Zealand [3].