Though they may appear very different from each other, they share many of the same traits to help them survive in almost any environment. It's time to dispel the myth that reptiles feel slimy and slippery. They all have thick, dry skin that is covered with scales for protection. Most reptiles do not live in water, so thick scaly skin also prevents them from drying out. As a reptile grows, it must shed its outermost layer of skin.
Snakes shed their skin all in one piece but other reptiles like lizards shed their skin in pieces.
The secret lies in their behavior. Reptiles will bask in the sun to warm up during the day and hide in warm areas to prevent themselves from cooling off too much at night. During the colder seasons, many reptiles will hibernate in the soil or in small, protected areas like cracks in the earth or spaces under large rocks. Reptiles that live in desert-like regions will do something similar to get away from the blistering heat of the sun during the hottest months. Very few reptiles give birth to live young.