Aren't reptiles cold-blooded?

[lantairvlea]

That's what I'd like to know. In three of the books I bought (note: only two were specifically on Dinosaurs, the other was about Birds), they said that dinosaurs are reptiles. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't reptiles classified as cold-blooded, scaled, egg-laying animals? eh, eh? Well? Aren't they? It seems that they've managed to forget the definition being as dinosaurs, judging by a whole gaggle of evidence were WARM-blooded, egg-laying animals. I don't say scaled because not all of them had scales, that's right! Some of them had feathers! Foofy fluff and the "real" thing as well!

So why not just give up and throw dinosaurs in their own Class? It'd make sense now wouldn't it? They're not reptiles, not mammals, nor fish, nor insects. They're dinosaurs! I can't say they're not birds because some were ultimately bird-like and the descendents of our fabulous feathered friends of today! Thus it makes me curious as to how in the world people would still toss dinosaurs into reptilia. *sigh.* Okay, I think I may write a letter. Really, they must be lazy or something because it can't be THAT hard to note that they're not reptiles, but their own defined class because reptiles are COLD-blooded, meaning that they can't regulate their own body temperature whereas dinosaurs were WARM-blooded and fully capable of controlling their body temperature either via covering, heat created by muscle movement, or the energy produced by the body.

So there's my rant. I could have sworn that ALL reptiles are cold-blooded, but woo! Those books are just too advanced for me! I didn't know they could be warm-blooded beasts as well!

*rant rant rant.*

Comments

[highwaypoetry.livejournal.com]

Taxonomy is looney, no doubt. As a matter of fact, Pan Troglodytes (chimpanzees) are genetically closer related to humans than gorillas, yet are placed in the same genus as gorillas. My guess is because humans need that false sense of dominance above all the other animals. ;-)

hehehe

[lantairvlea.livejournal.com]

we're rather big-headed beasts aren't we?