Lizard Gastrointestinal System

The teeth are generally pleurodont but in some families, such as agamas and chameleons, they are acrodont. The teeth of the venomous Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard are grooved to allow the flow of venom.

The tongue is generally mobile and protrusible. In the green iguana, the tip is darker than the rest and could be mistaken for a lesion.

The organs and divisions of the gastrointestinal tract are similar to those of mammals. The lizard has a simple, elongated stomach. The liver may contain melanin and have black spots - all lizards have a gall bladder. A caecum is present in many species and herbivorous lizards have a sacculated colon to aid fermentation.

A cloaca is present and is divided into coprodeum (collects faeces), ureodeum (collects urinary wastage) and proctodeum (final chamber prior to elimination)