How did reptiles survive the Ice Age?

Question

Reptiles have been around for millions of years, but they're cold-blooded and don't do well in cold temperatures, which is why you find them commonly in Africa and Australia, but less commonly in Canada and Norway! So, my question is how did they manage to survive throughout the Ice Age? Obviously they did, because we still have snakes, crocodiles and lizards all still around.

Answer 1

The ice age didn't mean the whole globe froze over - it just got colder. The equator of the earth, and even south of, say, what is now texas, was still pretty warm.

Answer 2

The southern perimeter of the last Ice Age was at where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers converge. While it was still cold in most of North America there was plenty of warmth from Mexico on south. Of course there were season variations. There were also variations in ice melt. It is likely that reptiles move along their geographic comfort zones. No doubt some got trapped in cold areas.

One example is the American alligator. Although almost are gone now, the Caribbean countries used to have many thousand alligators with perhaps 6 species. This is thought to be were the American alligator came. So, the reservoir of species survived the Ice Age in semi to tropical regions. Then as the ice receded and temperature rose. Gators expanded in to new more northern territory.

It seems to me that the snakes of North America are well adapted to a temperate climate. Apparently some herpetologist think that some species have extended their range further north.

Answer 3

I'm not sure but I don't think there is data indicating reptiles or other living things migrated during the ice ages of the past. They live at places not effected by that event. The warm spots on the Earth were just as warm during the iceage as they now are. There must be lots of data indicating this that has not as yet been studied.

Answer 4

Even during the Ice Age, parts of the earth had a moderate climate. Many reptiles even now hibernate during the cold season. Although they could not have survived in the coldest parts of the earth, there was still plenty of land where they could survive.

Answer 5

They survived as they do today. . .in warmer climates.
Note there still are no reptiles in present day frozen regions of the north or the south.

Answer 6

when god flooded things, his wife took all the reptiles off noah and put them under the covers to keep them warm. When the flood waters receded, jesus took the reptiles off Mrs Moses and warmed them up with his superbreath, and that's why the sky is bue...
GODDIDIT!!!!

Answer 7

These are all much more prevalent in warmer climates. I would guess they are slowly migrating back north.

Answer 8

they wore mittens