Why Do Reptiles Need Less Food than Mammals?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do reptiles need less food than mammals?

The Big Idea

A lizard sunbathes on a warm rock. Snakes can go weeks between meals. Why do reptiles eat so much less than mammals?

Mammals Make Heat

Step one: mammals make heat. Mammals and birds make their own body heat, which uses a lot of energy. They must eat often to keep that heat going.

Reptiles Borrow Heat

Step two: reptiles borrow heat. Reptiles, like lizards and snakes, rely on the Sun and warm surfaces to warm up. Because they do not burn food to stay warm, they need far less energy.

Slow in the Cold

Step three: slow in the cold. A snake can go weeks between meals. But reptiles slow down when it is cold.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! A lizard sits in the Sun. It warms up on a rock. It needs little food. In the cold, it slows down.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A lizard may need about a tenth of the food a mammal of the same size needs. The Sun does much of the warming job. Remember, a snake can go weeks between meals. Cold weather makes reptiles slow down.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Make two lists. On one, write what a warm-blooded animal does to stay warm or cool. On the other, write what a cold-blooded animal does. Compare the lists. Then tell a friend what you found out.

Outro

Reptiles need less food than mammals because they warm up with the Sun instead of burning food for heat. Science is amazing! Stay curious! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!