Scribd
Upload
9 views1 page

Overview of Lizard Species and Traits

Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles found on every continent except Antarctica, ranging in size from a few centimeters to over 3 meters long. They are often territorial and mainly carnivorous, with diet varying between insects to large mammals depending on size. Lizards have developed several antipredator adaptations for survival.

Uploaded by

jedsclement
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views1 page

Overview of Lizard Species and Traits

Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles found on every continent except Antarctica, ranging in size from a few centimeters to over 3 meters long. They are often territorial and mainly carnivorous, with diet varying between insects to large mammals depending on size. Lizards have developed several antipredator adaptations for survival.

Uploaded by

jedsclement
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Lizards 

are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species,[1] ranging across all


continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since
it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia, although some lizards are more closely related to these
two excluded groups than they are to other lizards. Lizards range in size
from chameleons and geckos a few centimeters long to the 3-meter-long Komodo dragon.
Most lizards are quadrupedal, running with a strong side-to-side motion. Some lineages (known as
"legless lizards"), have secondarily lost their legs, and have long snake-like bodies. Some lizards,
such as the forest-dwelling Draco, are able to glide. They are often territorial, the males fighting off
other males and signalling, often with bright colours, to attract mates and to intimidate rivals. Lizards
are mainly carnivorous, often being sit-and-wait predators; many smaller species eat insects, while
the Komodo eats mammals as big as water buffalo.
Lizards make use of a variety of antipredator adaptations, including venom, camouflage, reflex
bleeding, and the ability to sacrifice and regrow their tails.

You might also like