New South Wales Reptiles > NSW Reptiles Index
There is a diverse range of Reptiles (Class Reptilia) to be found in New South Wales that include lizards, snakes and turtles. Whilst there have been instances of crocodiles found in New South Wales (usually in the northern part), theses were believed to be individuals that have migrated from further north, or possibly pets that be been released or abandoned.
Reptiles are air-breathing vertebrates (vertebrates have backbones), whose metabolism depend on and is influenced by the temperature of their surrounding environment. They are cold-blooded creatures, that unlike mammals and birds, do not have fur or feathers to stay warm, nor do they have sweat glands or the ability to pant and cannot cool off on a hot day. For reptiles, their only option is to move into the sun or shade as needed to regulate their body temperature. During a cold early morning, you may see lizards in the garden that are very sluggish, until they are able to warm up.
The skin of reptiles is made up of scales, bony plates or a combination of both and they usually lay soft-shelled eggs. Boas and pythons give birth to live young. Whilst some reptiles are aquatic animals, most live on land.
Check out our main section under Fauna | Reptiles
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Clade: Sauropsida
- Class: Reptilia
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