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Lizard
I INTRODUCTION
Lizard, common name for certain reptiles in the order that also contains snakes, amphisbaenians (see Worm Lizard), and the extinct mosasaurs. Lizards constitute the largest living group of reptiles, with more than 4,300 species in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
II PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Although lizards may resemble salamanders and other amphibians, they differ in that lizards have dry scaly skin, and most have clawed feet and external ear openings. Most lizards are small, with four legs and a long tail that in many species is fragile and easily broken but will regenerate; the tail of such arboreal species as the chameleon is adapted for grasping branches. The legs of some lizards are greatly shortened, or vestigial, making animals such as the glass lizard or slowworm snakelike in appearance; they are distinguished from true snakes by their movable eyelids and by differences in the structure of the skull bones, especially those of the lower jaw. The bones of the two halves of a lizard's lower jaw are firmly united; those of a snake are separable.
Lizards move in a variety of ways, depending on body structure and habitat. The collared lizard and the basilisk run quickly on well-developed hind legs. Geckos have scaled disks on each toe that allow them to cling to smooth surfaces. Some lizards are good swimmers, and a number are adapted for climbing trees.
III BEHAVIOR
The diets of lizards vary greatly, depending on species. While most are insectivorous, some, such as the green iguana, are generally vegetarians. The Gila monster, which lives in desert areas, eats reptile and bird eggs as well as small rodents; it also has a fat reserve stored in its tail. Depending on their size, monitors prey on insects, birds and reptiles and their eggs, small mammals, and carrion. One species, the Komodo dragon, is large enough to be a threat to humans.
Typical of most reptiles, lizards generally do not display parental behavior. Females of most species lay eggs, which are left to hatch on their own. A few species, however, including the slowworm, give birth to living young.
IV HABITAT
Lizards are found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world; few species are found in temperate regions and none in arctic areas. Some are burrowing or terrestrial animals; some, arboreal, and others, semiaquatic. Iguanas are found in all three types of habitats.
V DEFENSE MECHANISMS
Lizards have a wide range of defense mechanisms. Only two lizards are venomous—the beaded lizard and the Gila monster—and use their venom for defense. Many species of large lizards, although not venomous, can defend themselves against attack by biting vigorously. When cornered, the horned lizard can spray an intruder with blood from the corners of its eyes or, like the chuckwalla, may retreat to a crevice and inflate its lungs with air, increasing its size so much that it cannot be pulled out of the narrow space. The alligator lizard has protective, armor-like scales, while the agile swift darts behind the rocks or among the fallen trees of its habitat. Many lizards are cryptically colored—that is, they blend in with their environment and are hard to see. Some lizards, such as the chameleon, can change their colors as the external environment changes.
VI IMPORTANCE
Most lizards are harmless and benefit humans by controlling insect populations. Some species are a source of food; some are killed for their skins, although it is now illegal to do so in many countries. A number of species are threatened by encroachment on their habitat, and the largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon, is on the endangered species list.
Scientific classification: Lizards belong to the order Squamata.
Lizards
Lizards are reptiles typically characterized by the following features: four legs, movable eyelids, scales along the sides and underside of the body, a long detachable tail, and a lower jaw with a rigid skeletal structure. Although some species of lizards, such as the glass snake (top, center), lack external legs, they are still classified as lizards since they possess movable eyelids and a lower jaw that does not separate when swallowing large food items. Pictured here are (top, left to right) the chameleon, glass snake, monitor, (bottom) iguana, Gila monster, and gecko.
Photo Researchers, Inc./Dorling Kindersley J.H. Robinson
