Lizard: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 197788203 by 207.157.9.131 (talk)
Line 35: Line 35:





==Relationship to humans==
[[Image:Iguanalarcomuseum.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Moche Ceramic Depicting Lizard. 200 A.D. [[Larco Museum|Larco Museum Collection]] Lima, Peru.]]
Most lizard species are harmless to humans. Only the very largest lizard species pose threat of death; the [[Komodo dragon]], for example, has been known to stalk, attack, and kill humans. The venom of the [[Gila monster]] and [[beaded lizard]] is not usually deadly but they can inflict extremely painful bites due to powerful jaws. The chief impact of lizards on humans is positive as they are significant [[predator]]s of [[Pest (animal)|pest]] species; numerous species are prominent in the [[pet]] trade; some are eaten as [[food]] (for example, [[Green Iguana]]s in Central America); and lizard symbology plays important, though rarely predominant roles in some [[culture]]s (e.g. [[Tarrotarro]] in Australian mythology). The [[Moche]] people of ancient [[Peru]] worshipped animals and often depicted lizards in their art.<ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref>


== Classification ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Lizard]] -->
== Classification ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Lizard]] -->

Revision as of 19:42, 12 March 2008

For other uses, see Lizard (disambiguation).

Lizard
Temporal range: Jurassic - Recent
"Lacertilia", from Ernst Haeckel's Artforms of Nature, 1904
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Superclass:
Tetrapoda
Class:
Sauropsida
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Lacertilia*

Günther, 1867
Families

Many, see text.

Lizards are reptiles of the order Squamata, normally possessing four legs and external ear openings. The adult length of species within the order range from a few centimeters (some Caribbean geckos) to nearly three meters (Komodo Dragons).

Description

Lizards are reptiles, often four-legged, with an integumentary system comprising scales, with a skull composed of quadrate bones. Lizards possess external ears and most have movable eyelids. Encompassing forty families, there is tremendous variety in colour, appearance and size. Due to their smooth, shiny appearance, some lizards can appear slimy or slippery although their skin is actually very dry due to a lack of pores to excrete water and oils.

Lizards have scales on their skin which may be tubercular or have ossified encrustations called osteoderms.[1]

Most lizards are oviparous, though a few species are viviparous. Many are also capable of regeneration of lost limbs or tails.

Some lizard species, including the glass lizard and legless lizards, have some vestigial structures though no functional legs. They are distinguished from true snakes by the presence of eyelids and ears and a tail that can sometimes break off as a physical defence mechanism. Many lizards are good climbers or fast sprinters. Some can run bipedally, such as the collared lizard and the world's fastest lizard, the spiny-tailed iguana of the genus Ctenosaura.

Many lizards can change colour in response to their environments or in times of stress. The most familiar example is the chameleon, but more subtle colour changes occur in other lizard species as well such as the anole, also known as the "American chameleon," "house chameleon" or "chamele".

Lizards in the Scincomorpha family, which include skinks (such as the blue-tailed skink), often have shiny, iridescent scales that appear moist. They are dry-skinned and generally prefer to avoid water. All lizards are capable of swimming if needed and a few (such as the Nile monitor) are quite comfortable in aquatic environments.




Classification

Plumed Basilisk, Basiliscus plumifrons
Zebra-tailed Lizard, Callisaurus draconoides
Red-headed rock agama, Agama agama
Gila monster, Heloderma s. suspectum
Green tree monitor lizard, Varanus prasinus
Two Tegus, Tupinambis merianae

Suborder Lacertilia (Sauria) - (Lizards)

References

  • Bebler, John L.; King, F. Wayne (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 581. ISBN 0394508246. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |Location= ignored (|location= suggested) (help)
  • Capula, Massimo (1989). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the World. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0671690981. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Cogger, Harold; Zweifel, Richard (1992). Reptiles & Amphibians. Sydney, Australia: Weldon Owen. ISBN 0831727861.
  • Conant, Roger; Collins, Joseph (1991). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians Eastern/Central North America. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395583896.
  • Ditmars, Raymond L (1933). Reptiles of the World: The Crocodilians, Lizards, Snakes, Turtles and Tortoises of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. New York: Macmillian. p. 321.
  • Freiberg, Dr. Marcos; Walls, Jerry (1984). The World of Venomous Animals. New Jersey: TFH Publications. ISBN 0876665679.
  • Gibbons, J. Whitfield; Gibbons, Whit (1983). Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures With Reptiles and Amphibians. Alabama: University of Alabama Press. p. 164. ISBN 978-0817301354.
  • Rosenfeld, Arthur (1989). Exotic Pets. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 293. ISBN 067147654. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)

Cited references

  1. ^ Smith, Malcolm A. (1943), The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma Vol II - Sauria, pg 2 & 3.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sauria.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lizard&oldid=197789016"