Lizards

Information about lizards:

Lizards are a large group of reptiles belonging to the order Squamata and the Suborder Lacertilia. There are lizards on every continent except Antarctica, although many islands do not have them either, unless they have been introduced by humans. The size of lizards can vary greatly, from a tiny dwarf chameleon that’s only a couple inches long, to the largest lizard – the Komodo Dragon – that can reach lengths of almost nine feet (3 meters.) Snakes are generally excluded from this group. Many lizards are carnivorous, so their eyesight is very keen and needed as a way to catch prey. Lizards also communicate visually (only geckos can make noise) so eyesight is also important in order to receive messages.

The fossil record of lizards can be traced back to an iguanian species named Tikiguania estesi. This species dates to the Carnian stage of the Triassic period or about 220 million years ago. Most lizards are not very large, and therefore not a threat to humans. Only the Komodo Dragon has been known to attack and kill people, but these are very rare events. Lizards do not have venom, with the exception of the Gila Monster and it’s close relative the Beaded Lizard of Central and South America. Lizards are often kept as pets, especially chameleons and geckos in part because they do not grow particularly large and are captivity bred fairly easily