Reptile
A cold-blooded vertebrate with scaly skin that typically lays eggs on land. Includes snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians—about 11,000 species.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 7 chapters:
"... (2018): 20181685. > Supports: Metabolic rate correlations with lifespan across species; comparative metabolism data for birds (hummingbirds) and reptiles (tortoises). Speakman, John R., and Colin Selman. "The Free-Radical Damage Theory: Accumulating Evidence Against a Simple Link of Oxidative Stress t..."
"...mption for glucose production, 30% for thawing Cowles, Raymond B., and Charles M. Bogert. "A Preliminary Study of the Thermal Requirements of Desert Reptiles." Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 83, no. 5 (1944): 261-296. > Supports: Desert iguana behavioral thermoregulation, temperat..."
"...tion of flight in insects unlocked access to aerial niches, enabling radiation into thousands of flying species. The evolution of the amniotic egg in reptiles unlocked terrestrial reproduction, enabling radiation into diverse land environments without dependence on water for breeding."
"...ndscape for aquatic locomotion has one dominant peak: streamlined, fusiform (torpedo-shaped) bodies minimize drag. Fish, ichthyosaurs (extinct marine reptiles), dolphins, seals, and penguins all converged on similar body shapes despite evolving from different terrestrial or aquatic ancestors."
"Offspring inherit these environmental conditions, which affect development (temperature during incubation affects sex ratios in some reptiles, microbiome composition affects immune development). Parental niche-construction decisions (where to nest) thus have transgenerational fitness conseq..."
And 2 more chapters...
Biological Context
Reptiles were the first vertebrates fully adapted to terrestrial life, with waterproof skin and shelled eggs. Being ectothermic, they require less food than mammals but depend on environmental temperature. Many reptile lineages have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.
Business Application
Reptilian business strategies: low metabolic overhead, patience, opportunistic feeding. Some companies operate reptile-style—low fixed costs, waiting for opportunities, striking decisively. Efficient but dependent on favorable external conditions.