A butterfly is an insect. Butterflies have 3 stages in their life, caterpillar stage, pupa stage, and into a colorful winged adult form. Butterflies origins may date back 65 million years ago. The oldest known fossil is a possible skipper butterfly discovered in Fur, Denmark. The fossil is around 57 million years old. One of the most beautiful preserved is a Metalmark butterfly from 25 million year old Dominican amber.

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. The atlas moth, one of the largest silk moths, can be mistaken for a medium- sized bat when flying. There are 4 types of moths, big, small, brown or cream. Most moths are active at night. Moths are over 100 million years old.

Hares are very fast moving. The European Brown Hare can run at speeds up to 45 mph. Hares live in pairs. Hares do not bear their young below ground in a burrow. Hares are gnawing animals.

Rabbits are small mammals and are found in several parts of the world. There are 7 different genera in the family. Rabbits are gnawing animals like rats, mice, and squirrels.

There are 2 living alligator species: the American There are 2 living alligator species: the American Alligator and the Chinese Alligator. Alligators have a Alligator and the Chinese Alligator. Alligators have a wider snout than crocodiles. In alligators only the wider snout than crocodiles. In alligators only the upper teeth can be seen with the jaws closed. The upper teeth can be seen with the jaws closed. The eyes of a large alligator will glow red and those of a eyes of a large alligator will glow red and those of a smaller one will grow green when a light is shined on smaller one will grow green when a light is shined on them.them.

Crocodiles are large reptiles that live throughout the Crocodiles are large reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats. They feed mostly on vertebrates and sometimes with They feed mostly on vertebrates and sometimes with invertebrates.invertebrates.

The earliest known turtles date from 215 The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago. 300 turtle species are million years ago. 300 turtle species are alive today, and some are highly alive today, and some are highly endangered. Turtles don’t lay eggs endangered. Turtles don’t lay eggs underwater and they breathe air. The underwater and they breathe air. The largest turtles are aquatic. largest turtles are aquatic.

Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. The tortoise has both an endoskeleton The tortoise has both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. Tortoises can and an exoskeleton. Tortoises can very in length from a few centimeters very in length from a few centimeters to 2 meters. Hatchlings take to 2 meters. Hatchlings take approximately 90-120 days to approximately 90-120 days to incubate within the ping-pong-ball incubate within the ping-pong-ball sized eggs.sized eggs.