Lizards

Lizards

  Lizards are the largest group of cold-blooded (ectothermic) reptiles on Earth. They are closest living relatives to snakes. They live on all continents except Antarctica. They have overlapping scales over their skin and claws at the end of their toes. The scales will vary in size from large rough scales on some lizards to many thousands of smooth scales on others. As lizard grows they will molt several times to lose their old skin. They lay soft leathery eggs when hatch produce new young lizards that looks like smaller versions of the adults. Most lizards live on the ground and eat the insects they catch.

 

  The two species tuatara from New Zealand offshore islands superficially looks like modern lizards but they are much older living fossils. They are the only two surviving species belonging to the order of Rhynchocephalia that were common more than 200 million years ago. Along with turtles they are one of the most primitive reptiles on Earth.

  Some of the more radical forms of lizards include burrowing worm lizards and legless lizards. Chameleons are adapted to living in their trees. They have special feet to climb with and eyes that move independently from each other. Chameleons use a projecting tongue that is longer than their bodies to catch insects with. Their skin can change color for better camouflage, social signaling to other chameleons, and changes in the environment. Marine iguanas are swimming marine reptiles that only live on the Galapagos Islands rocky shores. They dive into the oceans cold water to feed on seaweed and algae growing on the underwater rocks. The Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard are the only two species of venomous lizard. They are native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

  The Komodo dragons found on Indonesian islands is the largest living lizard. They are more than ten feet long and they are the islands apex predators. These giant lizards have excellent sense of smell they use to find dead animals with. Most of their food is carrion. They also eat any kind of prey large or small if that can ambush it. Large prey such pigs and deer are frequent victims. Komodo dragons also have attacked humans and will raid human graves.