Reptiles are air-breathing vertebrates covered in special skin made up of scales, bony plates, or a combination of both. They include crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tor- toises.

"In the tropics, however, reptiles are exposed to warm temperatures all year round and cannot slow their metabolism down ...

"Reptiles can slow down their metabolism a lot. So, in food-scarce times like winter, they go into torpor (hibernation) to avoid starving to death," explains Thaker.