Question

Why would it be pointless for reptiles to sit on their eggs to incubate them as birds do? (2 points) Reptiles have teeth with which to defend their eggs from predators, so they do not need to hide the eggs. Reptiles have no feathers and cannot cushion the eggs from bumping into each other without them. Reptiles are ectotherms and cannot raise their body temperature above that of the environment. Reptile eggs are not amniotic and have no shell, so sitting on them would crush them.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: 'Reptiles are ectotherms and cannot raise their body temperature above that of the environment'. Birds sit on their eggs to incubate the eggs as the body temperature of the adult bird warms up the eggs. Birds are endothermic homeotherms, and maintain a constant body temperature. In contrast reptiles are ectothermic poikilotherms, and their body temperature depends on the temperature of the outside environment.

Answer 2

The correct answer is that they are ecotherms and cannot raise their body temperature