Difference between revisions of "Lizard Classification"
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− | {{ | + | {{review}} |
− | + | [[Image:Chinese_water_dragon.jpg|400px|thumb|right|'''Chinese water dragon (family Agamidae)''' (© Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons)]] | |
==Lizard Classification Table== | ==Lizard Classification Table== | ||
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− | * '''For more information on the lizard taxonomy, see | + | * '''For more information on the lizard taxonomy, see''' [[Lizard Taxonomy and Identification|Lizard Taxonomy and Identification]]. |
==Families== | ==Families== | ||
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* Family of lizards of the old world | * Family of lizards of the old world | ||
− | * Acrodont dentition | + | * [[Acrodont dentition|Acrodont dentition]] |
* Includes the agama (''Agama agama''), frilled lizard (''Chamydosaurus kingii''), [[Water Dragon|water dragon]] (''Psysignathus cocincinus''), [[Spiny-tailed Lizard|Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard]] (''Uromastyx aegyptius'') and the sail-fin lizard (''Hydrosaurus pustulatus'') | * Includes the agama (''Agama agama''), frilled lizard (''Chamydosaurus kingii''), [[Water Dragon|water dragon]] (''Psysignathus cocincinus''), [[Spiny-tailed Lizard|Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard]] (''Uromastyx aegyptius'') and the sail-fin lizard (''Hydrosaurus pustulatus'') | ||
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* Family of lizards in the new world and a few species in the Indian Ocean region | * Family of lizards in the new world and a few species in the Indian Ocean region | ||
− | * Pleurodont dentition | + | * [[Pleurodont dentition|Pleurodont dentition]] |
* Includes the [[Green Iguana|green iguana]] (''Iguana iguana''), the [[Green Anole|green anole]] (''Anolis carolinensis''), [[Basilisk|basilisks]] (''Basiliscus'' spp.), horned lizards (''Phrynosoma'' spp.) spiny lizards (''Sceloporus'' spp.) and [[Rhinocerous Iguana|West Indian rock iguanas]] (''Cyclura'' spp.) | * Includes the [[Green Iguana|green iguana]] (''Iguana iguana''), the [[Green Anole|green anole]] (''Anolis carolinensis''), [[Basilisk|basilisks]] (''Basiliscus'' spp.), horned lizards (''Phrynosoma'' spp.) spiny lizards (''Sceloporus'' spp.) and [[Rhinocerous Iguana|West Indian rock iguanas]] (''Cyclura'' spp.) | ||
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* [[Monitor|Monitor]] lizards | * [[Monitor|Monitor]] lizards | ||
* Mostly large powerful predators or carrion eaters | * Mostly large powerful predators or carrion eaters | ||
− | * Includes the savannah monitor (''Varanus exanthematicus''), Nile monitor (''Varanus niloticus'') and the Komodo dragon (''Varanus komodoensis'') | + | * Includes the [[Monitor|savannah monitor]] (''Varanus exanthematicus''), [[Monitor|Nile monitor]] (''Varanus niloticus'') and the Komodo dragon (''Varanus komodoensis'') |
===Lanthanotidae=== | ===Lanthanotidae=== |
Latest revision as of 12:14, 12 August 2010
This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing. |
Lizard Classification Table
Suborder | Infraorder | Family | Common Name | Genera | Species |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sauria | Iguania | Agamidae | Water Dragons | 53 | 300 |
Iguanidae | Iguanas | 55 | 650 | ||
Chamaeleontidae | Chameleons | 4 | 85 | ||
Gekkota | Gekkonidae | Geckos | 85 | 800 | |
Pygopodidae | Snake lizards | 1 | 31 | ||
Scincomorpha | Lacertidae | Wall and sand lizards | 25 | 200 | |
Teiidae | Tegus, whiptails | 39 | 227 | ||
Xantusiidae | Desert night lizards | 1 | 16 | ||
Scincidae | Skinks | 85 | 1275 | ||
Cordylidae | Girdle-tailed lizards | 10 | 50 | ||
Dibamidae | Blind lizards | 1 | 4 | ||
Anguinomorpha | Xenosauridae | Crocodile lizards | 1 | 4 | |
Anguidae | Anguids | 8 | 75 | ||
Helodermatidae | Beaded lizard, Gila Monster | 1 | 2 | ||
Varanidae | Monitors | 1 | 31 | ||
Lanthanotidae | Borneo earless lizard | 1 | 1 |
- For more information on the lizard taxonomy, see Lizard Taxonomy and Identification.
Families
Agamidae
- Family of lizards of the old world
- Acrodont dentition
- Includes the agama (Agama agama), frilled lizard (Chamydosaurus kingii), water dragon (Psysignathus cocincinus), Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptius) and the sail-fin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)
Iguanidae
- Family of lizards in the new world and a few species in the Indian Ocean region
- Pleurodont dentition
- Includes the green iguana (Iguana iguana), the green anole (Anolis carolinensis), basilisks (Basiliscus spp.), horned lizards (Phrynosoma spp.) spiny lizards (Sceloporus spp.) and West Indian rock iguanas (Cyclura spp.)
Chamaeleontidae
- Old world or true chameleons
- Anatomical differences from other lizards may include astonishingly long tongues, ability for colour change, oppositely opposable digits and prehensile tails.
- Generally viviparous
Gekkonidae
- Geckos
- Large and diverse family which have colonised all tropical areas and extended into temperature regions
- Primarily nocturnal insectivores
- Anatomical differences from other lizards may include toe-pads, eyelids that have fused and are transparent as in snakes and eyes that move independently and are usually large
- When subjected to daylight the pupils contract to a narrow slit with a series of pinholes
- Generally oviparous with one to two eggs laid but some are viviparous
- Three subfamilies are Eublepharine (no toe-pads), Sphaerodactylinae and Gekkoninae
- Includes the commonly kept leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
Pygopodidae
- Includes snake lizards (Lialis spp.) and the scalyfoot (Pygopus spp.) which are without forelimbs and their hindlimbs are reduced to flaps of skin
Lacertidae
- Wall or sand lizards of the old world
- Insectivorous
- All oviparous except the viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivapara)
- Includes the oscellated green lizard (Lacerta lepida), rock lizard (Lacerta saxicola)
Teiidae
- New world equivalents of the Lacertidae
- The smaller are insectivorous and the larger carnivorous
- Includes the whiptails and racerunners (Cnemidophorus spp.), jungle runners (Ameiva spp.) and tegus (Tupinambis spp.)
Xantusiidae
- Desert night lizards
- Xantusia spp.
Scincidae
- True skinks
- Little sexual dimorphism
- Includes the blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua spp.), prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata), five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus) and the casqueheads (Tribolonotus spp.)
Cordylidae
- Zonures or girdle-tailed lizards
- All require very hot, dry conditions
- Includes Cordylus spp.
Dibamidae
- Blind lizards
- Dibamus and Anelytropsis spp.
Xenosauridae
- Consists of the Chinese crocodile-tailed lizard (Shinisaurus crocodiluris) and the new world xenosaurs (Xenosaurus spp.)
Anguidae
- Long and snake-like in form
- In America, Asia, Africa and Europe but species are not numerous
- Both oviparous and viviparous species, both diurnal and nocturnal species and generally terrestrial
- Insectivorous or carnivorous
- Includes slow-worm (Anguis fragilis), alligator lizards (Elgaria spp.), glass lizards (Ophisaurus spp.) legless lizards (Annelia spp.) and the sheltopusik (Ophisaurus apodus)
Helodermatidae
- Two species that are the only venomous lizards
- Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) and the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum)
Varanidae
- Monitor lizards
- Mostly large powerful predators or carrion eaters
- Includes the savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus), Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) and the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
Lanthanotidae
- Monotypic family
- The Bornean earless lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis)