The bearded agama (Pogona vitticeps) is a lizard that even a novice terrariumist can have. Nature endowed this creature with an amazing appearance and sufficient unpretentiousness for life at home. The bearded dragon is native to the Australian continent. At one time, the Australian authorities very strictly controlled the export of representatives of the local fauna, but still the relatives of the agama fell outside the mainland and began to successfully breed in other territories that were quite suitable for them in terms of habitat conditions. The bearded agama is amazing not only in its appearance, but also in the name directly associated with it. The Latin word Pogona in translation just means the presence of a beard, and vitticeps has an even more bizarre meaning - “bulb headband”. So the Latin name of the lizard indicates the presence of leathery spikes around the ears, on the head and throat of the agama. These spikes just imitate a beard. The British, because of this sign, even called the agama the bearded dragon - the central bearded dragon. And another unique ability of the bearded dragon is to change color when the lizard is frightened or worried. In this state, the bearded agama brightens, and its paws acquire a bright yellow or orange hue. The color of the lizard can also change depending on the ambient temperature.
tree agama
Already from the name of the tree agamas of the species Agama atricollis it is clear that nature, for sure, has adapted these lizards to an arboreal lifestyle. And above all, she gave them a patronizing coloration. Try to see the tree agama in the lush greenery of the tropical African forest - you are unlikely to succeed. Its variable brownish, olive or green body easily merges with foliage or tree bark, and its elongated shape can resemble anything - a protruding branch, an outgrowth on a trunk, or a piece of the same bark. The sharp claws of the tree agama help it deftly move through the trees. But there are also atypical representatives of Agama atricollis, for example, with a bright blue head. By the way, these lizards are excellent camouflage. Despite the incredulity and not the easiest taming, they like to keep tree agamas in terrariums. True, this is possible only if they are provided with suitable conditions - temperature, humidity, feed. Tree agamas are rather capricious creatures and can easily wither away if something in the environment is not to their liking, that is, not for health. And do not expect devotion and affection from the lizard, it is not easy to make contact and at first it can be afraid of the owners, and after getting used to ignore it.
bengal monitor lizard
The Bengal monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is a reptile that has a body size of up to 2 meters, as a rule, on average it does not exceed 170 cm. These animals have a slender body and a narrow, noticeably pointed head in front. Their tail is of moderate length, laterally compressed and has a low double keel along its upper edge. The body of monitor lizards is dark olive in color, covered on top with numerous speckles and round yellow spots. They are transverse lines. Adult representatives of this species are uniformly colored yellow, brownish-olive or brownish-gray, on which dark spots are hardly distinguishable.
Cape monitor lizard
The Cape monitor lizard is also called the Bosca monitor lizard or the steppe monitor lizard (lat. Varanus exanthematicus) is a species of reptile from the monitor lizard family. This name of this species is erroneous, since this animal does not live in the Cape Mountains, but since it was first brought to Europe and described from South Africa, this name stuck with him to this day.
Subspecies of this lizard are not distinguished. However, some herpetologists in their works describe 4 subspecies based on their habitat, but almost all taxonomists recognized them as invalid, and the species is considered integral.
These animals in adult form have a body length with a tail of 80 - 110 cm and up to 2 meters. Their body is atypical for monitor lizards, as it is rather overweight, but it fully corresponds to the life activity that the animal leads. That is, it is aimed at the endurance of the body and economy vital energy rather than climbing trees and diving in water.
Cape monitor lizards have a short body and muzzle, it has obliquely set nostrils, shaped like slits, located very close to the eyes. These animals have short fingers with very large claws. The body of the lizard is covered with small scales, the tail is laterally compressed and has a double crest on the upper edge. The color of these reptiles has a gray-brown gamut with yellow stripes and spots. The lower side of the body of the monitor lizard is lighter than the back, the throat is yellowish-white, and brown and yellow rings are pronounced on the tail.
Komodo monitor lizard
The Komodo dragon gets its name from its habitat on the small island of Komodo in eastern Indonesia, where it was described in 1912 as separate view. These reptiles have hardly changed over the past 2 million years. They take their origin from ancient snakes, having inherited from them a poisonous gland.
Komodo dragons are the largest reptiles on earth. Their dimensions can reach up to 3 meters in length with a weight of 150 kg. Wild monitor lizards are significantly inferior in size to their relatives, which are kept in captivity.
Juveniles of this species are quite brightly colored. From above, they are of a beautiful light chestnut color, which smoothly turns into green-yellow on the nape and neck, and carrot-orange on the shoulders and back. According to such colors, reddish-orange spots and rings are arranged in transverse rows on the body of the animal, which can merge into continuous stripes on the neck and tail. Over time, the color of monitor lizards changes to a uniform dark brown color, on which dirty yellow speckles can sometimes be found.
Nile monitor
The Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus) is another one of the huge number of representatives of lizards.
In length, these animals can reach up to 2 meters, although such individuals are very rare. As a rule, the body size of a monitor lizard is 1.7 meters, of which 1 meter falls on the tail. In reptiles of this species, the tail is laterally flattened and equipped with a longitudinal keel (crest) on top. On the head there are no longitudinal rows of wide scales above the eyes, the nostrils are round and set closer to the anterior margin of the eye. The teeth of monitor lizards are cone-shaped in front, and with blunt crowns in the back.
The body color of the lizards is a dark yellowish-green gamut, against which there is a beautiful pattern of irregular transverse stripes formed by small yellow specks and spots. Between the shoulders and groin are horseshoe-shaped yellow spots, and in front of the shoulders is a black semicircular stripe. The color of the tail in its lower part is yellow with transverse stripes, and the first aunt of the tail has yellow-green rings.
striped monitor lizard
The striped monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) is a species of animal that belongs to the class of reptiles. It has many names, depending on where it is distributed. On the island of Bali, striped monitor lizards are called "Alyu", and on the island of Flores - "Veti". In other areas of Malaysia and Indonesia, these animals are called "Biawak Air" by the local population. In Thailand, they are called nothing more than “Khiah”, but more often they use the term “Tua-nguyen-tua-tong”. In Sri Lanka, striped monitors are called "Karabaragoya", while in Bengal they are called "Ram godhika", "Pani godhi" or "Pani goisap". In the Philippines, these monitors are called "Halo", but the most commonly used name is "Bayavac".
monitor lizard gray
The gray monitor lizard (Varanus griseus) is a representative of the lizard suborder of the reptile class. The size of an adult animal, together with the tail, can reach a length of 150 cm, and weight up to 3.5 kg. The body of this animal is massive, equipped with strong legs with curved claws on the fingers. Like most monitor lizards, the gray monitor lizard has a very strong and long rounded tail. The color of the scales merges with the surrounding background, which is a good remedy for shelter from enemies and for catching prey, because not every animal is able to recognize the body of an animal that is grayish-brown with a reddish tinge, which hid on the steppe plain. The lizard has dark spots and dots scattered all over its body, and almost parallel stripes run across the back and tail of the same color. On the head of the reptile are curved nostrils that open near the eyes. Such anatomical structure make it easier for the animal to explore holes, since the nostrils are not clogged with sand. The gray monitor lizard has strong and long teeth, in the oral cavity there are sharp, slightly recurved teeth that help to hold the victim. Throughout the life of the animal, they are erased and replaced with new ones.
Madagascar day gecko
Among the representatives of the tropical fauna there are a lot of truly beautiful animals, often painted in amazingly bright colors. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the very nature of the tropics is distinguished by a riot of colors. For example, in tropical latitudes there are exotic birds painted in incredible shades, as well as exotic lizards, one of which will be discussed in this article. The Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis) deserves to be known not only to herpetologists and avid terrariumists. Although among lovers of exotic reptiles, he is rightfully called a veteran of terrariums. What is so unusual about the daytime Madagascar gecko? First of all, it is a bright color of the body. Moreover, the colors that nature gave to this lizard are unlikely to find analogues among artificially created shades. The body of the Madagascar day gecko is rich velvety green in contrast with large bright red spots along its back. Moreover, different representatives of the species may have a variable color, for example, be green-blue with several small red patches or pure green with a red stripe on the back. The Madagascar gecko is named diurnal in accordance with the daily rhythms of its life. The lizard lives, as the name suggests, only in Madagascar and belongs to the genus Felsum, endemic to this island. By the way, one of the most common and largest subspecies of the Madagascar day gecko is called Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis for its amazing appearance.
gecko madagascar
The Madagascar flat-tailed gecko, along with the common gecko, is one of the celebrities of the tropical fauna because of its amazing appearance. It has the unique ability to change body color depending on ambient temperature and lighting. In the sun, the Madagascar gecko is deep green, and in the shade it can easily turn olive, brown, or even lose its green and put on a gray outfit. In bright sunlight, the body of the lizard takes on a lemon hue, but if you look at it against the light, the gecko is already aquamarine with a deep blue tail. This flat-tailed lizard is named for its wide and flattened top and bottom tail with serrated edges. And although the flat-tailed gecko is also classified as a Madagascar species, its habitat is not limited to this island. Broad-tailed lizards are also found in the Seychelles and Hawaii, however, scientists believe that reptiles were brought there, while Madagascar is their natural homeland. In size, flat-tailed Madagascar geckos are inferior to ordinary day geckos, but otherwise they have similar features. Which ones - read in the relevant sections. And of course, these lizards, like day geckos, are popular "exhibits" of terrarium collections. But in order for the flat-tailed gecko to always be alert, healthy and bright, it is especially necessary to maintain a suitable level of moisture in the environment. But for ordinary day geckos, this is not the most important indicator.
Lizards have lived on Earth for millions of years. They managed to successfully adapt to the changing conditions of life on our planet and today this species of animals can be found in different parts of the world.
The largest lizard lives on Komodo Island in Indonesia. This is a Komodo monitor lizard, which has a length of 3 meters with a body weight of up to 160 kg. This type of lizard is of particular interest to scientists. The locals call it the dragon of Komodo Island. He leads the ranking of the largest lizards.
1. Komodo Dragon or Komodo Island Dragon
Scientists discovered this species of lizard in 1912. It is believed that these giants used to live in Australia. Seismic activity and changing terrain prompted them to move to the islands of Indonesia. Adult monitor lizards grow up to 3 meters long and can weigh up to 160 kg.
Medium Komodo monitor lizards are up to 2 meters long. The skin of these animals is dark and mottled. They have powerful paws, tail, jaws and sharp teeth.
These lizards are excellent swimmers, climb trees and run at a speed of 20 km per hour. Komodo monitor lizards are terrible predators that have no enemies in nature. They prey on rodents, snakes, baby crocodile, deer, wild boar, goats, buffalo and even their relatives. These lizards do not disdain carrion and can tear up and eat the bodies of buried animals and people. Therefore, on the island of Komodo, heavy plates are installed on the graves.
There have been cases of these giants attacking people, although this rarely happens. Danger awaits children and livestock, which often become monitor lizard's dinner. The saliva of these "dragons" is toxic, so the victim weakens after a bite and slowly dies.
Komodo dragons arrange bloody fights for the female during the mating season. She lays up to 20 eggs. Cubs are born small and can become prey for birds and snakes. The mother guards only the masonry. Then it all depends on the ability to hide, so the kids hide in the foliage.
The monitor lizard of Komodo Island is listed in the Red Book. Hunting for this lizard is prohibited. But locals make up for the inconvenience of coexisting with this giant with tourism revenue. Despite the danger, tourists actively visit Komodo all year round.
This huge lizard lives in Australia. The length of her body is up to 2.5 meters, with a weight of 25 kg.
Lives in inaccessible areas, feeds on snakes, birds and small mammals (wallabies, wombats). When trying to hunt him, he attacks a person. A tail blow can knock a man to the ground or cripple a dog.
3. Striped monitor lizard
The body length of this giant is up to 250 cm. Weight is up to 20 kg. Only the Komodo dragon is heavier than it. Distributed in Sumatra, Java, in mainland India.
This is a semi-aquatic lizard. She is an excellent swimmer and diver. Digs burrows up to 10 meters deep and can climb trees. Eats fish, baby crocodile, turtle eggs, otters and even mammals (monkeys).
Lives in New Guinea. Body length up to 2 meters, weight up to 10 kg. This is a tree lizard. Uses its tail to grab onto tree branches, often rearing up on its hind legs to get its bearings.
It hunts birds, snakes, kangaroos, does not disdain carrion. It swallows small prey whole, and tears out pieces of meat from large prey. There were cases of attacks on humans and livestock.
Reaches body size up to 175 cm. Weight up to 7.2 kg. Digs burrows under tree roots or rocks. It can settle in a hollow, it climbs trees very well.
Runs and jumps fast. Lives in India and Pakistan. In northern Pakistan, it hibernates. It feeds on rodents, snakes, eggs of birds, snakes and crocodiles.
Body length up to 125 cm. Weight up to 13 kg. Lives only in the Galapagos Islands.
Digging holes for himself. It feeds on vegetation, picks up fallen fruits, flowers and sprouts of cacti (opuntia).
Inhabits the Galapagos Islands. Body length up to 140 cm. Weight up to 12 kg. It has a long tail, up to half of the body. Most of his time is at sea, he can swim and dive very well.
On land, it can be found on a rocky coast, in swamps or mango thickets. It has an interesting pinkish skin color. It feeds on algae. Eggs are laid on the shore in warm sand.
The body length of the sailing lizard reaches 1 meter, it has a leather comb on its back. This lizard is omnivorous.
It eats fruits, flowers, leaves, insects and small mammals. The animal is not aggressive, so it often becomes a prey for local hunters. The eggs of the female are laid in the sand on the shore.
The largest individuals of chameleons grow up to 60 cm in length. These lizards have long legs with fingers adapted for grasping branches. Helps in this chameleon and twisted tail. On the round head of these animals there are small horns.
The chameleon has unusual eyes that can look in different directions and increase the view of the area when hunting. This lizard can change skin color. Color changes depend on air temperature, fear, anger, hunger and other emotions.
Animals are common in Africa, India, Sri Lanka, America and Southern Europe. Chameleons have a long tongue with an insect sucker. They also will not refuse to eat fruits and young greens.
There are up to 5,000 species of lizards on Earth, and all of them are admired. After all, one cannot but be surprised by the ability of these animals to autotomy, that is, in case of danger, to discard and grow a tail again. These creatures can change skin color to adapt to their environment or disguise themselves as a withered leaf. Basilisk can run on water, and Moloch can soak up water in the desert with all the skin of his body.
The long forked tongue helps the lizards hunt. Their adaptability, strength and ability to survive can be the envy of many animals. The largest lizard, the Kamoda monitor lizard, is an exceptional species that may still bring many surprises to scientists.
Lizards belong to the class of reptiles. Their defining characteristics include a long tail, two pairs of legs that extend outward from the body, and scaly skin. Most lizards are cold-blooded animals and depend on environmental conditions to regulate their body temperature. There are many types of lizards distributed throughout the world. Different types of lizards have different distinctive characteristics, which makes them interesting to study. Some of them even look prehistoric or sci-fi movie creatures!
gecko toki
gecko currents ( gecko gecko) is a species of nocturnal reptile belonging to the genus Gekko, found in Asia, as well as on some islands in the Pacific Ocean. The toki gecko has a robust body, large head, strong limbs and jaws compared to other gecko species. This is a large lizard that reaches 30 to 35 centimeters in length. Despite the fact that the toki gecko camouflages itself to its environment, it usually has a grayish color with red spots. Its body is cylindrical in shape and smooth in texture. Toki geckos are sexually dimorphic, which means that the males are brighter than the females. They feed on insects and other small ones. Strong jaws allow them to easily crush the exoskeleton of insects.
marine iguana
marine iguana ( Amblyrhynchus cristatu listen)) is a species of lizard found only in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, with each island being home to marine iguanas of varying sizes and shapes. Recently, their populations have been threatened due to the large number of predators that feed on lizards and their eggs. Marine iguanas are marine reptiles that are often described as ugly and disgusting because of their appearance. Contrary to their fierce look, marine iguanas are gentle. Their coloration is mostly black soot. The long, flattened tail helps them swim, while the flat and sharp claws allow them to cling to rocks in case of strong currents. Marine iguanas often sneeze to clear their nostrils of salt. In addition to sneezing, they have special glands that secrete excess salt.
Lesser belttail
Small belttails ( Cordylus cataphractus) lives in desert and semi-desert regions. They are mainly found along the west coast of South Africa. Lizards were used in the pet trade for a long time until they became endangered. The color of the small girdle is either light brown or dark brown, and the lower part of the body is yellow with dark stripes. They are diurnal reptiles that feed on small plants, as well as other types of small lizards and rodents. If the lizard senses danger, it inserts its tail into its mouth to form spherical shape that lets her roll. In this form, the spikes on the back are exposed, protecting the lesser girdled tail from predators.
Agama Mwanza
Agama Mwanza ( Agama mwanzae) are found in most sub-Saharan countries. They are usually 13-30 cm long, and males are 8-13 cm longer than females. These lizards usually live in small groups with one male as the leader. The dominant male is allowed to breed, while other males may not mate with females in the group unless they eliminate the main male or form their own group. Mwanza Agamas feed on insects, reptiles, small mammals and vegetation. They mate during the rainy season. Before mating, the male digs small holes with his snout. After mating, the females lay their eggs in the holes. Incubation period takes 8 to 10 weeks.
komodo dragon
Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis) is the largest known species of lizard. They live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinka, Flores and Gili Motang. Mature monitor lizards weigh an average of 70 kg and are about 3 meters long. Komodo dragons ambush a variety of prey that includes birds, invertebrates, small mammals, and in rare cases, humans. Its bite is venomous. The protein venom they inject when they bite can cause unconsciousness, low blood pressure, muscle paralysis, and hypothermia in victims. Komodo dragons breed from May to August, and the females lay their eggs between August and September.
Moloch
(Moloch horridus) is mostly found in the Australian deserts. It grows up to 20 cm and has a lifespan of 15 to 16 years. Its color is usually brown or olive. Moloch camouflages himself in cold weather by changing his skin tone to a darker one. His body is covered with spikes for protection. The lizard also has soft tissues that resemble its head. The fabrics are located on the upper part of the neck and serve as a defense, in which the prickly dragon hides its real head if it senses danger. Moloch has another amazing desert survival mechanism. Its complex skin structure, under the action of capillary force, helps to fuse water into the lizard's mouth. The basis of the diet of Moloch is the ant.
Arizona gila-tooth
Arizona gila-tooth ( Heloderma suspectum) - a poisonous species of lizard that lives in the desert and rocky regions of Mexico and the United States. These reptiles have flattened triangular heads that are larger in males than females. Long, thick and cylindrical body, wider in females. Their diet consists of reptile eggs, birds and rodents. Hunting skills are characterized by a strong sense of smell and hearing. The Arizona gill can hear the vibrations of its prey from afar and smell the buried eggs. A large body and tail are used to store fat and water reserves, which allows them to survive in deserts. Dry and flaky scales prevent excessive water loss from the lizard's body.
Parson's Chameleon
Parson's Chameleon ( Calumma Parsonii) is the largest chameleon in the world. It is found in Madagascar. The large and triangular head has independently moving eyes. Males have two horn structures running from the eyes to the nose. Females lay up to fifty eggs, which can be incubated for up to 2 years. After hatching, Parson's young chameleons immediately become independent. Due to their unusual appearance, they are imported for home keeping in other countries. However, most reptiles die during transportation. Parson's chameleons are immobile animals, making minimal movements only for feeding, drinking and mating.
lobe-tailed gecko
Bladetail Gecko ( Ptychozoon kuhli) is found in Asia, especially India, Indonesia, Southern Thailand, and Singapore. They have unusual leathery outgrowths on the sides of their bodies and webbed feet. They feed on crickets, wax worms and mealworms. They are nocturnal reptiles. Males are very territorial and difficult to keep in a cage. They disguise themselves as tree bark, which helps them avoid predators. Blade-tailed geckos live inside trees and jump from branch to branch, especially when they sense danger.
Iguana rhinoceros
Rhino Iguana ( Cyclura cornuta) is an endangered species of lizard that lives on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. They have a horn-like outgrowth on their snout, similar to a rhinoceros horn. The length of rhinoceros iguanas is 60-136 cm, and the weight ranges from 4.5 kg to 9 kg. Their color varies from grayish to dark green and brown. Rhinoceros iguanas have large bodies and heads. Their tail is vertically flattened and quite strong. They are sexually dimorphic and males are larger than females. After mating, females lay between 2 and 34 eggs within 40 days. Their eggs are among the largest among lizards.
Lizards are a very common group of reptile class. There are many different types These animals have different colors, sizes and habits. It often happens that we call lizards those representatives who do not belong to this group at all. This is because we are used to calling reptiles those who run on four legs and have a long tail. To better understand this, you first need to know the structural features of these animals.
Structural features
Lizards live in forests, deserts, mountains and steppes. The body is covered with horny scales. They are not able to breathe through the skin like frogs, because in the process of evolution they have lost this ability. Some species are adapted to life in water.
The size of these animals usually ranges from 20 to 40 cm. But there is one species whose size reaches 80 cm. This species is called pearl. But if you take the largest lizard, then its height will be 3 meters. This species is called the Komodo dragon. This is the largest lizard on earth. A separate group in the lizard family- lizards, reach a height of 10 cm. But the smallest growth is assigned to the South American gecko. His height does not exceed 4 centimeters.
The coloration of these animals is usually green, brown, gray or mixed with these colors. There are representatives who have a very bright color of red or blue.
There is another feature that distinguishes these animals from their own kind. These are moving eyelids. For example, snakes have fused eyelids, and therefore their eye mobility is small. Representatives of this group are capable of autotomy, that is, they can throw off their tail. This can be used as a distraction from an attack. For example, when a lizard is attacked by a predator, it can break its spine and drop its tail, which will writhe for a while and act as a bait. At this time, she will start to crawl from the scene of the attack and possibly save his life. Of course, the process is not pleasant, but what can you do to survive.
Scientists have found that these animals do not have vocal cords, and therefore they are always silent. But there is only one species, which is called the Stehlin and Simon lizard. When danger approaches this animal emits a semblance of a squeak.
reproduction
There are several ways of reproduction in lizards (it all depends on the species):
- laying eggs;
- live birth;
- live birth eggs.
In the first method, the female lays from 1 to 35 eggs covered with a shell or a soft leathery shell. They lay their eggs in protected places. For example, under stones or in the sand. In viviparous species, the embryo receives all the nutrients from the mother's body. But there is also an egg bearing live birth. With him, the baby develops in the egg which is in the mother's body.
Nutrition
The diet of these animals is very diverse. Some feed on small insects, others feed only on plant matter. There are species that combine plant and animal food. There are species that feed only on berries. Large lizards feed on fish, small mammals, snakes.
Protection
These animals have a lot of potential enemies., and in order not to be eaten, they have a lot of means for protection. The main feature of the defense is a fast run with sharp turns. Thanks to this, the lizard can easily get away from the pursuer. They can burrow into sand or various foliage, and can easily be camouflaged. And as already mentioned in the article, they drop their tail when an enemy attacks them. If she is caught, she will begin to bite and dodge very smartly. Because of this, it will be difficult to hold her. In the event that they are caught, they often grab the back of the money.
Kinds
Having understood a little about the general structure and features of these animals, let's move on to a description of the various species. It will be difficult to list all types of lizards and their features, because this is the largest group of reptiles on Earth. Therefore, we will analyze only a few types:
All listed types do not belong to the family of true lizards, but they are related.
The most common group of the class of reptiles are lizards, of which there are almost six thousand species. They differ in size, color and habits. Even if we do not take into account the fact that new species of lizards are regularly discovered, the names and photos of all animals of this suborder would still not fit in one article. Let's get acquainted only with representatives of this group.
Lizard species: names and photos
The suborder of lizards is divided into six infraorders, including 37 families. We present one interesting species from each infraorder.
- iguanas . The most famous iguana is the Yemeni chameleon. The species is distinguished by its large size among chameleons. Males reach a length of 60 cm. characteristic feature representatives of this family is the ability to mimicry. They change body color for camouflage. The Yemeni chameleon turns brown when threatened. However, do not expect bright colors from it - for such a spectacle, you will have to look at other species.
- Skinks . The Crimean lizard is found in Moldova, in Black Sea Russia (Republic of Crimea), the Balkan Peninsula and the Ionian Islands. It reaches twenty centimeters in length. The color is brown or green with dark rows of longitudinal spots. It has the ability to shed its tail and grow a new one, like all members of the Real lizard family.
- monitor lizards . In addition to the extinct marine predators of the mosasaurs, the infraorder also includes the largest modern lizard - the Komodo monitor lizard, which grows up to three meters in length and reaches a weight of more than 80 kg. IN early age feed on eggs, birds, small animals. Over time, they move on to larger prey. At one time, the Komodo dragon is able to eat an amount of meat equal to 80% of its own weight. Thanks to an elastic stomach and movable bone joints, a representative of this species swallows an animal the size of a goat whole.
- Geckos. The Madagascar day gecko or green felzuma is one of the largest members of its family. In length, individuals of this species reach up to 30.5 cm. The color is bright green. Most of their life, not exceeding ten years, is spent on trees in search of insects, fruits and flower nectar, which make up the main diet of green felsums.
- worm-like . Representatives of the worm-like infraorder bear little resemblance to lizards familiar to the layman. A typical representative - the American worm-like lizard - has no legs, no eyes, no ears. The animal does not even resemble a snake, but rather an earthworm, but they have no family ties with the latter. American worm-like lizards lead a burrowing lifestyle, representing another amazing branch of lizard evolution.
- Fusiform . Representatives of this infraorder also decided to give up extra limbs. The brittle spindle, or tinsel, is often confused with the copperhead snake from the already-shaped family. This type of lizard is easily tamed by humans and lives in captivity twice as long as in nature, being protected from natural enemies.
Lizard breeding
With rare exceptions, lizards reproduce sexually. Otherwise, parthenogenesis takes place, in which the offspring develops from the egg of the female without the participation of the male. All lizards are oviparous. However, some of them lay shelled eggs, from which, after a while, cubs appear. Other species are ovoviviparous. The young emerge from the eggs just before leaving the female's body. Representatives of lizard species that are small in size die immediately after laying or giving birth to cubs.
Breeding in captivity requires a calm environment for animals, as stress significantly reduces the reproductive function of lizards.
Sometimes define different kinds lizards, perhaps, based on their name and photo. However, some related species are so similar that only a specialist can recognize them. Looking at other lizards, an uninitiated person will rank them among other groups of animals. Biological studies of family ties between representatives of this suborder of reptiles.
Types of lizards, names and photos of their subspecies are interesting not only for professional herpetologists and terrariumists, but also for everyone who likes to observe the nature of our planet, marveling at the amazing diversity of the animal world. The variety of lizards from blind burrowing creatures to three-meter predatory giants is only an echo of the past greatness of this group, when ancient mosasaurs plied the oceans. The largest species of this extinct family, the Hoffmann Mosasaurus, could reach a length of almost twenty meters and was the king of the marine predators of the late Cretaceous. Impressive lizard, isn't it?
