Reptiles at Risk

Adventures in a Van; or, Concerning the Shark

Posted by Jeff Hathaway on August 7, 2009 at 2:48 PM

Road trips aren't road trips without a diesel powered Ford van of unknown origins that has been on the planet longer than you have. What would I have to write about if the fan belt had not fallen off or if the wires to the brake lights of the trailer had not started to smoulder on the highway? I suppose I could write about sharks... but first I'll say a giant thank you to the wonderful people out there who helped out the RAR crew with all of the vehicular issues that we have experienced. First, to Ricky, a lovely man in the Lowes parking lot who stayed with us for an unreasonably long time trying to figure out how best to repair the brake lights to the trailer without getting electrocuted. Also, to the fine mechanics who offered their services and tools free of charge- Paul in Simcoe and his master mechanic buddy - thus restoring the use of brakes and by extension the ability to drive safely.
Now, about those sharks.
Mainly, sharks are not reptiles. This seems to be a topic of much contention, being that like the crocodilians, they are big and have lots of teeth. However, as they do not breathe with lungs, they are not reptilian. Sharks are really just fish with cartilage. Speaking of things that are not reptilian, newts, salamanders, and frogs are also not reptiles. It is a common enough error, being that these animals and reptiles are together known as the herpetiles. Newts, salamanders, and frogs actually belong to another group called amphibians. Although amphibians are ectothermic like reptiles, they do not have scales and their young live and breathe underwater before adapting to life on land. Now go forth and impress your friends with your classification skills.
-Brittany