Difference Between Reptiles and Mammals

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Reptiles and Mammals

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Introduction

There are five classes of vertebrates, two of which are mammals and reptiles. There are more than 5000 different kinds of mammals, including humans, apes, bears, whales, and wolves. With more than 8000 species, including lizards, crocodiles, snakes, turtles, and other creatures, reptiles are a more diversified group than mammals.

The phylum Chordata includes two kinds of animals: mammals and reptiles. Animals with warm blood are mammals, and those with cold blood are reptiles. While reptiles have scales covering their bodies, mammals have hair or fur. Mammals give birth to live infants, whereas eggs are laid by reptiles. Mammals and reptiles differ primarily in that mammals have mammary glands, which enables them to provide milk for their young, whereas reptiles do not. Reptiles include turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, crocodiles, alligators, and tuatara, whereas mammals include marsupials, monotremes, and placentals.

Mammals and reptiles vary primarily in that mammals have warm-blooded creatures with skin that is typically covered with hair. Young mammals are fed milk produced by the mammary glands. Reptiles, on the other hand, have scaly, dry skin and are cold-blooded creatures. On the ground, they deposit shells like eggs.

Mammals vs. Reptiles

Mammals are one of the five classes of vertebrates. Mammals have mammary glands from which milk is released to nourish their young since they are warm-blooded creatures. Their bodies are covered with hair. Mammals can endure cold conditions thanks to their body hair. despite the absence of hair on whales' bodies.

The vertebrate group of animals also includes reptiles as a form of animal class. Animals with chilly blood like reptiles rely on their environment to warm them up. Reptiles have dry skin that is either covered with scales or horny plates. They use their lungs to breathe. The majority of reptiles deposit their eggs on the ground and feed on other creatures to survive.

Difference Between Mammals and Reptiles in Tabular Form

Parameter of comparison Mammals Reptiles
Skin All of a mammal's body is covered in hair. On their skin, they also contain sweat glands. The bodies of reptiles are hairless. They instead have scales that develop in the epidermis (top layer of the skin) as opposed to the dermis layer of the skin, which are very different from fish scales.
Teeth Mammals have teeth with specific functions, such as canines for ripping into flesh and morals for grinding food. Throughout their whole lifetimes, they only get two sets of teeth. Although their sizes vary, reptiles' teeth all share the same shape. Teeth continue to develop throughout a reptile's lifetime.
Jaw and Ear bones The lower jaw bone is securely fixed to the skull in mammals. One continuous bone makes up the lower jaw. The three middle ear bones of mammals are thought to have originated from the lower jawbones of reptiles. The reptiles have several bones in their lower jaw. However, they only have one ear bone.
Cardiovascular system Two atria and two ventricles make up the four chambers of a mammal's heart. Atria send blood to the lungs to reoxygenate the body while ventricles supply oxygenated blood to the body's organs. The result is that the mammalian body is always warm.  One atrium and two ventricles make up the three chambers of the reptile heart. Reptiles have a colder blood temperature than mammals. They must rely on their surroundings to keep them warm.
Reproduction Mammals with only females give birth to live infants. To nourish their young, they have mammary glands that release milk. The majority of reptiles lay eggs. Reptile females lack mammary glands. After hatching, they typically leave their young.

What are Mammals?

One of the five groups of vertebrate animals is mammals. Live young are born to mammals, and these young are fed by the milk released by their mammary glands. Mammals are separated from other classes by a few other traits in addition to these. Their entire bodies are covered with hair. Whales, on the other hand, lack body hair. On their skin, they also contain sweat glands.

In mammals, the lower jaw bone is securely fixed to the skull. One continuous bone makes up the lower jaw. The three middle ear bones of mammals are thought to have originated from the lower jawbones of reptiles.Mammals have teeth with specific functions, such as canines for ripping into flesh and morals for grinding food. Throughout their whole lifetimes, they only get two sets of teeth.

Two atria and two ventricles make up the four chambers of a mammal's heart. Atria send blood to the lungs to reoxygenate the body, while ventricles supply oxygenated blood to the body's organs. The result is that the mammalian body is always warm.

A variety of habitats and forms have been developed by the Mammalia class. The Mammalia class is found all over the planet. Mammals come in about 125 families and over 5,500 species.

Rodents are the current mammals that are most prevalent. Most experts agree that of all the animal classes, mammals are the most versatile (insects and arachnids are exceptions).

Warm-blooded mammals need milk produced by their mammary glands to feed their young. There are over 5,500 different species of mammals on the planet, spread throughout every environment from the deep sea to the desert. Mammals often have huge bodies. Mammals range in size from one ounce (shrews) to 200 tonnes (whale). Mammals maintain their body temperature independently of their surroundings because they have warm blood. This is made possible by the heat generated by their body's endothermic metabolism.

Fur or hair sprouting on various regions of the body is one of a mammal's distinguishing characteristics. Different types of hair are possible, including dense fur, horns, lengthy whiskers, and protective quills. The primary purpose of hair is to insulate the body from cold.

Internal fertilisation occurs in mammals, and the embryo grows inside the mother to become a baby. Thus, the majority of animals give birth to live, mostly formed offspring. Mammary glands, a sort of enlarged sweat gland, are one of the most important characteristics of animals because they allow them to suckle their young. Placentals, marsupials, and monotremes are the three main categories of mammals.

What are Reptiles?

Another group of vertebrates with amniotic development, epidermal scales covering every surface of their bodies, and internal fertilisation are reptiles. More than 8700 species belong to the five main categories of living reptiles: tuatara, turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and lizards.

Although their sizes vary, the teeth of reptiles all share the same shape. Teeth continue to develop throughout a reptile's lifetime. The reptiles have several bones in their lower jaw. However, they only have one ear bone. One atrium and two ventricles make up the three chambers of the reptile heart. Reptiles have a colder body temperature than mammals. They must rely on their surroundings to keep them warm.

The majority of reptiles lay eggs. Reptile females lack mammary glands. After hatching, they typically leave their young. The bodies of reptiles are hairless. They instead have scales that develop in the epidermis (top layer of the skin) as opposed to the dermis layer of the skin, which are very different from fish scales.

Eggs laid by reptiles often have calcareous or leathery shells. They usually hunt to provide food for their young. Some of the reptiles that hatch after abandon their young. Some of the reptiles defend themselves by using their tails. Snakes defend themselves by injecting poison into their adversaries.

Cold-blooded vertebrates with a dry, scaly skin and shelled eggs on the ground are known as reptiles. Reptiles' ability to regulate their body temperature mostly depends on the ambient temperature. The horny epidermal layer gives reptiles' skin its water-tight quality. Turtles are one kind of reptile that has a hard shell. Others have supple or robust scales. The majority of reptiles have daylight-adapted eyes. They have more sophisticated visual depth awareness than mammals and amphibians. Most reptiles are tetrapods. However, other reptiles lack limbs, like snakes. Their spinal column helps with movement. The cerebellum and cerebrum are enormous in reptiles. Eggs laid by reptiles have either calcareous or leathery shells. Hunting is the major source of food for their young. Some reptiles have the ability to lose their tails as a kind of protection. The primary means by which snakes defend themselves is by injecting their adversaries with venom.

Similarities Between Mammals and Reptiles

  • The phylum Chordata includes two classes: mammals and reptiles.
  • A nerve cord protects the nerve cord in both mammals and reptiles.
  • Mammals and reptiles both have complex neurological systems.
  • Bilateral symmetry is a feature of both mammals and reptiles.
  • Mammals and reptiles both have four limbs, making them tetrapods.
  • Lungs are used for breathing by both reptiles and mammals.
  • A pharynx is a component of the respiratory system in both mammals and reptiles.
  • Mammals and reptiles both have a heart and a closed circulatory system.
  • A sophisticated exoskeleton comprised of bones is a feature of both mammals and reptiles.
  • Mammals and reptiles both have highly developed sensory systems.
  • Both mammals and reptiles have overlapping reproductive and excretory systems.
  • The primary mode of reproduction for both mammals and reptiles is sexual reproduction.
  • Mammals and reptiles are both internally fertilised, unisexual species.

Main Differences Between Mammals and Reptiles in Points

All of a mammal's body is covered in hair. On their skin, they also contain sweat glands.

  • Reptiles, on the other hand, have no body hair. Instead, their scales, which differ significantly from fish scales, develop in the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) as opposed to the dermis.
  • Mammals have teeth with specific functions, such as canines for ripping into flesh and morals for grinding food. Throughout their whole lifetimes, they only get two sets of teeth. Although their sizes vary, the teeth of reptiles all share the same shape. Teeth continue to develop throughout a reptile's lifetime.In mammals, the lower jaw bone is securely fixed to the skull. One continuous bone makes up the lower jaw. The three middle ear bones of mammals are thought to have originated from the lower jawbones of reptiles.
  • The reptiles have several bones in their lower jaw. However, they only have one ear bone.Two atria and two ventricles make up the four chambers of a mammal's heart. Atria send blood to the lungs to reoxygenate the body, while ventricles supply oxygenated blood to the body's organs. The result is that the mammalian body is always warm.The reptile heart, on the other hand, has three chambers: an atrium and two ventricles. Reptiles have a colder body temperature than mammals. They must rely on their surroundings to keep them warm.Mammals with only females give birth to live infants. To nourish their young, they have mammary glands that release milk. The majority of reptiles lay eggs. Reptile females lack mammary glands. After hatching, they typically leave their young.
  1. Animals without mammary glands are reptiles.
  2. Mammals provide longer-term care for their young.
  3. Reptiles: For a brief amount of time, reptiles tend to their young.
  • Growth

Mammals: After reaching adulthood, mammals continue to develop slowly.

Reptiles: Reptiles are constantly expanding.

  • Skull

Mammals have an enlarged brain case and a skull.

Reptiles have a tiny brain case in their skull.

  • Oblique Condyle

Mammals: The skulls of mammals have two occipital condyles.

Reptiles: The occipital condyle in the skulls of reptiles is single.

  • Cerebrum

Mammals have bigger, more voluminous cerebral hemispheres.

Reptiles: The brains of reptiles have a rather modest size.

  • Mental Capacity

Mammals have advanced cognitive capacities.

Reptiles: Reptiles have a limited capacity for cognitive function.

  • Jaws

Mammals with jaws have a single bone that makes up their jaw.

Reptiles: Several bones work together to construct the jaw of a reptile.

  • Ear Bone in the Center

The malleus, incus, and stapes are the three middle ear bones found in mammals.

Reptiles: The columella, which mimics the stapes, is the only middle ear bone found in reptiles.

  • Teeth

Mammals have two sets of teeth throughout their lifespans: deciduous teeth and permanent teeth. The cheeks of mammals feature intricate teeth.

Reptiles: Simple cheek teeth continually replace the teeth of reptiles.

  • A Plate of Bone

Animals: In mammals, the bony plate entirely divides the nasal and oral cavities.

Reptiles: Reptiles have an imperfect bone plate.

  • Ribs

Mammals: The ribs of mammals are only found in the thoracic vertebrae.

Reptiles: The vertebrae of reptiles have ribs on them.

Mammal Pelvic Bones: In mammals, the pelvic bones are united.

Reptiles have a divided pelvic bone.

  • Limbs

Mammals: The limbs of mammals are located directly below the body.

In reptiles, legs protrude horizontally from the body.

  • Locomotion

Mammals: Mammals move with an upright posture.

Reptiles: The gait of reptiles is expansive.

Conclusion

The two major animal groups that make up the vertebrate phylum are mammals and reptiles. The vertebral column, sometimes known as the backbone, is a feature of vertebrate creatures. Reptiles and mammals both have bilateral body layouts. Tetrapods with four limbs are seen in both animal groups. A pharynx is a component of the respiratory system shared by mammals and reptiles.

Mammals and reptiles vary primarily in that mammals have warm-blooded creatures with skin that is typically covered with hair. Young mammals are fed milk produced by the mammary glands. Reptiles, on the other hand, have scaly, dry skin and are cold-blooded creatures. On the ground, they deposit shells like eggs.

References

  • https://www.cabdirect.org/?target=%2fcabdirect%2fabstract%2f19762274394
  • https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.530.8703

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"Difference Between Reptiles and Mammals." Diffzy.com, 2024. Sun. 24 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-reptiles-and-mammals-1026>.



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