Final answer:
Animals in the Serpentes group are snakes, which are more closely related to lizards than to crocodiles or turtles, as they belong to the Squamata order along with lizards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Animals that belong to the reptile group Serpentes are commonly known as snakes. These creatures are more closely related to lizards than they are to crocodiles or turtles. Snakes and lizards both belong to the order Squamata, making them close relatives within the reptilian world. This order is the largest among reptiles and includes creatures that range in size from minuscule geckos to the massive saltwater crocodile.
The Squamata order diverged from a common lepidosaurian ancestor and is highly diverse, with snakes being a subgroup that has adapted to a legless lifestyle. It's interesting to note that snakes are thought to have evolved from either burrowing or aquatic lizard ancestors over 100 million years ago. Modern snakes are exclusively carnivorous, feeding on a diet that includes small animals, birds, eggs, fish, and insects, and they inhabit every continent with the exception of Antarctica.