There are
sixteen families
of lizards. The major families include iguanas, chameleons, girdled lizards, agamids, crocodile lizards, night lizards, alligator lizards, plated lizards, basilisks, skinks, tegus and greaved lizards, monitor lizards
How many families does a lizard have?
There are currently about
27 lizard families
, based on traditional classification, described as well. Each of these sections has a list of all types of lizards that may be found for pets, as well as many other species.
What are the lizard families?
| Family Common Names Example Species | Gymnophthalmidae Spectacled lizards – | Lacertidae Oppel, 1811 Wall or true lizards Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) | Scincidae Oppel, 1811 Skinks Western Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua occipitalis) | Teiidae Tegus or whiptails Blue Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) |
|---|
What are the 4 lizard groups?
There are more than 8,200 living species of reptiles, and they are placed in four orders: Crocodilia, which includes crocodiles and alligators; Sphenodontia, or tuataras;
Squamata
, which includes lizards and snakes; and Testudines, such as turtles and tortoises.
Do lizards have a family?
Some 20 lizard species are thought to form family groups. Only two of these lay eggs. This suggests that viviparity, or live birth, is crucial for the evolution of such family ties. … “In lizards,
live birth predisposes an animal to form
a family group.”
What do lizards do at night?
Most lizards are diurnal which means they are active over the day
and inactive during the night
. Sleeping is an activity that can expose them to potential predators, so they need to be careful about choosing the right place to rest.
Do lizards bite?
Lizards bite with teeth rather than fangs
. Venom enters the bite wound by dripping down grooves in the teeth rather than being injected through fangs, as it is with poisonous snakes. Lizards tend to hang on to their victims, making them hard to remove once they have bitten.
Do lizards play dead?
Additionally, some lizards exhibit a peculiar defensive behavior: death-feigning. … Death feigning is also known as catalepsy, or tonic immobility. In most cases, animals that exhibit this behavior “play dead” by maintaining a
rigid posture
or by simulating fully relaxed muscles (e.g. fainting; Greene 1988).
Where do lizards sleep?
Lizards hibernate during cold times of the year, making their homes in
tree trunks, under rocks
, or wherever they can find shelter.
What is the lifespan of house lizard?
They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, and are immediately recognisable by their characteristic chirping. They grow to a length of between 7.5–15 cm (3–6 in), and live for
about 5 years
. These small geckos are non-venomous and not harmful to humans.
What is the largest living reptile?
Saltwater crocodiles
are the largest crocodile species in the world, and the largest living reptile in the world. 2. Male saltwater crocodiles have been recorded at lengths of 23 feet (7 m) and weights of 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg).
Do reptiles pee?
Unlike the kidneys of mammals and birds,
reptile kidneys are unable to produce liquid urine more concentrated than their body fluid
. This is because they lack a specialized structure called a loop of Henle, which is present in the nephrons of birds and mammals.
Is a tuatara a lizard?
Although
it looks like a lizard
, it really is quite different. Found in New Zealand only, the tuatara's closest relatives are an extinct group of reptiles around at the time of the dinosaurs. This is why some scientists refer to tuataras as “living fossils.”
Can lizards harm humans?
Lizards tend to avoid confrontation
. Bites are only inflicted when they are manipulated or when they are cornered and feel threatened. Lizard bites may be frightening but most do not cause serious health problems. The wall lizard or gecko, found in most homes, is not poisonous at all.
How long do lizards stay with their mom?
These large, nocturnal lizards give birth to live young. Baby prehensile-tailed skinks remain with their parents for a period of
six months to one year following their birth
. During this time, both parents will actively defend the young from predators.
Do lizards eat their own tails?
When being chased and nipped at by a scary predator, lizards will often lose their tails in a process called autotomy. … Assuming the predator doesn't eat the tail as a consolation prize,
some lizards will return to eat it themselves
, as the tail contains large fat deposits.
