Lizards are reptile within the monastic order Squamata , with over 7,000 species go around across every continent except Antarctica . Characterized by scaly hide , four legs ( or none in legless metal money ) , and external ear openings , they vary from tiny geckos to massive Komodo dragons . Their adaptability has direct to a wide mountain chain of habitats , from deserts to rainforests .
Most lizards are ectothermic , swear on outside heat to regulate consistency temperature , often bask on rocks or branches . They ’re predominantly carnivorous or insectivorous , eating dirt ball , humble mammals , or eggs , though some , like iguanas , are herbivorous . Their hunting styles differ — chameleons use sticky tongues , while monitor swear on stop number and long suit .
lizard exhibit unbelievable diversity in appearance and behavior . Chameleons change color , tusk lounge lizard squirt blood , and fly dragon glide with pelt flaps . Sizes stray from the 2 - in dwarf gecko to the 10 - foot Komodo flying lizard , and colors span muted browns to vivid putting green , often assist camouflage or mating show .
Reproduction change : most lay eggs , but some , like the common lizard , bear live unseasoned in colder clime . Many can regenerate at sea tail — a defense mechanism called autotomy — though the new tail is often brusque . lounge lizard diddle key ecological roles as predators and prey , influencing insect populations and food webs .
Culturally , lizard are pets ( geckos , bewhiskered flying dragon ) , symbols ( like the nimble deceiver in folklore ) , and even food in some region . They confront threats from habitat passing , mood change , and the favourite craft , yet their resilience keeps them thrive . From poisonous Gila monsters to harmless anoles , lizards captivate with their miscellany and tenacity .
Types of Lizards
Komodo Dragon ( Varanus komodoensis )
The Komodo tartar is the enceinte lounge lizard on Earth , aboriginal to a few Indonesian islands like Komodo and Rinca . Reaching lengths of up to 10 feet and weighing over 150 pounds , this apex predatory animal has a rich build , sharp claws , and serrated teeth . Its bite delivers venom that inhibits blood line clotting , allowing it to take down prey like cervid and water Bison bison . Komodo Dragon inhabit ironic savannas and forests , relying on keen sensory faculty of smell — detecting carrion miles away with their pitchfork tongue . Though solitary , they ’re fiercely territorial and can sprint at surprising speeds for their sizing .
Green Iguana ( Iguana iguana )
Green iguanas are vibrant , herbivorous lizard find in Central and South America , from Mexico to Brazil , and introduced in place like Florida . Growing up to 6 infantry foresightful , they sport a promising green eubstance ( though color dulls with age ) , a row of spur along their back , and a dewlap under their mentum used for showing . They ’re arboreal , thriving in rainforests near rivers , where they relish in treetops and dive into water to get away predatory animal . Their diet consists of leaves , bloom , and yield , and they ’re popular as pets despite necessitate all-inclusive caution due to their size and lifespan of up to 20 age .
Gila Monster ( Heloderma suspectum )
The Gila teras , one of only two venomous lizard , roams the deserts of the southwest United States and northwestern Mexico . Its compact consistency , up to 2 feet long , is cover in bead - like , orangish - and - black scales that warn of its virile venom , delivered through grooved tooth . This slow - moving lizard feed on eggs , small mammals , and birds , storing fat in its tail for thin times . Gila monsters spend much of their life underground , emerging to hunting or bask , and their spite , while painful , is rarely fatal to man — though it ’s being study for medical app like diabetes treatment .
Leopard Gecko ( Eublepharis macularius )
aboriginal to the waterless regions of Pakistan , India , and Afghanistan , the leopard gecko is a small , nocturnal lizard , typically 8 - 10 inches long . Its yellow - and - lily-white body is adorned with dark spots , resemble a Panthera pardus ’s coat , and it has transferable lid — a rarity among gecko . Unlike many geckos , it lacks sticky toe pads , bank on claws for handgrip . Leopard geckos thrive in rocky deserts , run on insects like crickets and mealworms . Their docile nature and ease of care make them a favorite in the favored trade , with a lifespan reaching 15 - 20 years .
Chameleon ( sept Chamaeleonidae )
Chameleons , with over 200 species , are renowned for their colouring - convert ability , found across Africa , Madagascar , and portion of Asia and Europe . coinage like the veiled chameleon grow to 2 feet , with avaricious tails , pouch eye that move independently , and a sticky tongue that shoot out to snag worm . Their color shifts — due to skin chromatophores — signal mood , temperature , or camouflage . chameleon inhabit woodland and savannas , often arboreal , and their slow , deliberate movement help them invalidate detection . They ’re sole and territorial , with male display bright hue to draw mates or deter rivals .
Monitor Lizard ( genus Varanus )
Monitor lizards , like the Nile monitor or Asian water monitor , are a diverse group bump across Africa , Asia , and Australia . size of it alter wide — the body of water monitor can turn over 10 feet , though most are smaller . They have muscular bodies , foresighted tails , and fork tongues for sensing prey , which includes ballock , fish , and small mammals . Monitor are intelligent and participating , often swimming or mount in their home ground of forests , river , or savannas . Some species , like the perentie , are apex predator , while others adjust to urban interference fringe , showcasing their versatility .
Blue - tongue Skink ( Tiliqua scincoides )
The blue - tongue skink , native to Australia and New Guinea , is a stout lounge lizard , about 2 base long , with a vivid spicy clapper it dash to start predatory animal . Its smooth , overlap scales are gray or brownish with disconsolate ring , suited to woodlands and grasslands . An omnivore , it eats snails , insects , and fruits , using its secure jaw to crush food . depressed - glossa are diurnal and slowly - travel , often basking or foraging in open area . Their gentle demeanor and 20 - year lifespan make them democratic pets , though they involve plenteous space to thrive .
Horned Lizard ( genus Phrynosoma )
tusk lizards , often called “ horny toads , ” inhabit North America ’s deserts and field , from Canada to Mexico . Their vapid , spiky bodies — up to 5 inches long — are camouflage in sandy browns , with horn - like hump for defense . They tip chiefly on ants , using a sticky tongue , and can squirt pedigree from their eyes to dissuade predatory animal like snakes . tusk lizard rely on basking to warm up up , remaining still to blend into their surroundings . Habitat passing and the pet trade threaten some species , despite their way-out adaptation .
Frilled Lizard ( Chlamydosaurus kingii )
The frilled lounge lizard , set up in northern Australia and New Guinea , is famed for its great , colorful neck frill , which it flares when threatened , making it appear larger than its 3 - foot distance . Its slender , gray - brown consistency is arboreal , suited to timber and savanna , where it hunts insects and minor vertebrates . When alarmed , it runs bipedally on its hind legs , nonsense protract , before climb to refuge . Frilled lizard are unfrequented and savor in tree , relying on their dramatic display rather than speed for natural selection .
Anole ( genus Anolis )
Anoles , with over 400 species , are small lizard — typically 5 - 8 inch long — witness across the Americas , especially the Caribbean . The green anole , for illustration , shifts between light-green and brown for camouflage or signaling . They have adhesive toe launching pad for climbing tree and walls in wood or suburbs , feed on insects like spiders . Males display a red throat fan ( dewlap ) to appeal mates or put forward territory . Anoles are adaptable , with some species encroaching in spot like Florida , thriving due to their lightsomeness and resilience .
setaceous Devil ( Moloch horridus )
The thorny demon , an Australian desert inhabitant , is a modest , bizarre lounge lizard , about 8 column inch long , covered in sharp , spikelet - like spine . Its tan and brown colouration changes with temperature , aiding camouflage among sandy dunes . It feeds exclusively on ants , lapping up thousands daily with a muggy tongue , and collects urine via skin grooves that channel dew to its mouth . Slow - moving and lonesome , the thorny devil puffs up or tucks its fountainhead to deter predators , trust on its spiky armor for protection in rough arid conditions .
Collared Lizard ( Crotaphytus collaris )
The collared lizard , native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico , is a striking reptilian hump for its bright coloring material — bright greens , yellows , and blues — and two ignominious bands around its cervix resembling a collar . Growing up to 14 inches long , it inhabits rocky deserts and grasslands , where it relish on Stone and dash bipedally at speeds up to 16 mph to capture insects , small lounge lizard , or flee predator . Its strong jaws and spry dead body make it a unnerving hunter , while its territorial male perform pushing - up displays to swear laterality .
Jackson ’s Chameleon ( Trioceros jacksonii )
Jackson ’s Chamaeleon , originally from East Africa ( Kenya and Tanzania ) and introduced to Hawaii , is a medium - sized lizard , about 12 inches prospicient , far-famed for its three prominent horns — two above the centre and one on the beak — make it a triceratops - like coming into court . Its gullible body can reposition to yellows or browns for camouflage or communication , and it thrives in montane forests , give on insects with its long , projectile tongue . Arboreal and slow - affect , it uses its prehensile tail and zygodactyl foot ( fused toe ) to grip branches , making it a master of treetop living .
Fence Lizard ( genus Sceloporus )
fencing lizards , like the western fence lizard ( Sceloporus occidentalis ) , are widespread across North America , from Canada to Mexico . Typically 6 - 9 column inch long , they have spiky , gray - dark-brown scales with blue belly patches in male person , used in coupling displays . Found in forests , grasslands , and bouldery sphere , they ’re often envision savour on fence or log , hence their name . They use up insect like beetle and ants , and their blood contains a protein that kills Lyme disease bacteria in tick , indirectly gain human wellness . Agile climbers , they scud out when threatened .
Agama Lizard ( genus Agama )
Agama lizard , common in Africa , Asia , and portion of Europe , are known for their colorful breeding displays , especially in species like the red - headed agama . Males , up to 12 column inch long , turn bright red , blue , or orange during coupling season , while females persist grim Brown University . They dwell savannah , deserts , and bumpy outcrops , basking on elevated surfaces to regulate temperature and eat worm or small vertebrates . agama are territorial , with dominant males perform question - bobbing rituals to ward off rival , and they ’re well - adapted to arid shape with efficient weewee preservation .
Flying Dragon ( Draco volans )
The flying dragon , or Draco lounge lizard , is a little , arboriform species found in Southeast Asia ’s rainforests , growing to about 8 inch long . Its slender , brownish body is everyday until it spreads its “ wings”—flaps of pelt supported by elongated costa — allowing it to glide up to 30 foot between trees . These gliders escape predators and following insects , their primary solid food , using camouflaged traffic pattern to blend into barque . Males have a bright throat flapping for courtship displays , and their lightweight build makes them masters of aerial navigation in dense forest canopies .
obtuse Worm ( Anguis fragilis )
The dumb dirt ball , despite its snake in the grass - same appearance , is a legless lizard native to Europe and parts of Asia . strive 20 inches long , its suave , glossy body ranges from gray to bronze , with female often sporting a dark stripes . Found in grasslands , woodlands , and garden , it burrows or hides under rock , feeding on slugs , louse , and soft - incarnate insects . Slow worm are ovoviviparous , giving giving birth to last young , and can molt their tails ( autotomy ) to escape piranha . Their tightlipped nature and long lifespan — up to 30 years — make them tough .
Desert Iguana ( Dipsosaurus dorsalis )
The desert common iguana thrives in the arid regions of the southwesterly United States and northwestern Mexico , grow to about 16 inches long . Its pale gray or tan body , with faint bands , blends into sandy dunes and jumpy flats , where it basks to tolerate eminent temperatures . A herbivore , it eats creosote bush flowers , leaves , and occasional insects , using its blunt snout to scrounge . Desert iguanas are alone and dig burrows for shade and hibernation , come forth in fountain to mate . Their passion allowance — up to 115 ° farad — sets them apart from most lizard .
Side - Blotched Lizard ( Uta stansburiana )
The side - blotched lounge lizard , common in western North America ’s comeupance and scrublands , is a small species , about 5 - 6 inches long , with a grayish - brown consistency marked by dark splotch or maculation . Males demo a fascinating mating scheme with three throat vividness morphs — orange ( aggressive ) , downcast ( accommodative ) , and yellow ( sneaky)—each tied to distinct behaviors in a rock-and-roll - paper - pair of scissors - similar dominance cycle . They fee on insects and spider , dash across open ground or enshroud under rocks . Their adaptability and genetic variety make them a key written report subject in evolutionary biology .
Common Basilisk ( Basiliscus genus Basiliscus )
The mutual basilisk , or “ Jesus Christ lounge lizard , ” live fundamental and South American rainforests near rivers , growing to 2 - 3 feet long . Its green or brown body features a crown on its heading , back , and tail , but it ’s far-famed for running on water using large , fringed hind feet — up to 20 feet before sinking . basilisk are omnivores , eating insects , little vertebrates , and plants , and they ’re first-class bather and climbing iron . When menace , their bipedal dash across water or into trees showcases their agility , making them a spectacle in their humid habitats .
Sand Lizard ( Lacerta agilis )
The sand lizard , recover across Europe and western Asia , is a average - sized species , up to 10 inches long , with male turn vivid super C during breed time of year while females remain brownish with dark stripes . They prefer sandlike heaths , dunes , and grasslands , enjoy on warm surfaces and track down worm like grasshoppers . Sand lizards lay bollock in burrows , and their universe are sensitive to home ground departure , earn them conservation status in some region . Their cryptic colouration and quick motility facilitate them evade predators like bird .
Tuatara ( Sphenodon punctatus )
Though not a dependable lizard ( it ’s the lone subsister of the order Rhynchocephalia ) , the tuatara is often include in lizard discussion due to its reptilian traits . Native to New Zealand , it uprise to 2 feet long , with a spiky crest and grizzly - green pelt . tuatara have a “ third eye ” ( parietal eye ) on their head , peradventure for smell out brightness , and they wipe out louse , fowl , and egg with sharp dentition . survive in coastal woods or on island , they ’re nocturnal and can dwell over 100 year , making them living fogey from a filiation dating back 200 million years .
Armadillo Lizard ( Ouroborus cataphractus )
The armadillo lounge lizard , from South Africa ’s desiccate regions , is a small , 6 - 8 - column inch coinage with a unequaled defense : it rolls into a spiky ball , tuck its head into its tail like an armadillo . Its browned , armored soundbox is covered in square , bony scales , become to rough outcrops where it savor and eats insects like termites . Social for a lounge lizard , it go in small radical , a rarity among reptile . Armadillo lizards give birth to live youthful , and their striking appearance and demeanor make them a aim for the pet trade , though they ’re protected due to habitat threats .
Tokay Gecko ( Gekko gecko )
The Tokay gecko , native to Southeast Asia and parts of the Pacific , is a big , nocturnal lizard , reaching up to 14 inches long . Its vibrant gray - blue body is covered in orange tree or red pip , and its sticky toe pad let it to wax walls and trees in rainforests or human dwelling house . Known for its loud “ to - kay ” call , it ’s a territorial predatory animal , feeding on louse , small-scale vertebrate , and even other geckos . Tokay are popular in the pet trade , though their feisty bite and strong grip make them a challenge to care .
Long - Tailed Grass Lizard ( Takydromus sexlineatus )
The long - tailed grass lizard , found across Southeast Asia , is a slender , agile specie , originate to about 12 inches — most of which is its whiplash - similar tail , up to three times its consistence length . Its bronze or greenish consistence blends into grassy domain and forest , where it darts through vegetation to trip up insect like cricket . This diurnal lounge lizard use its tail end for balance and can cast it to escape predator , regrowing it over time . Its speed and ticklish framing make it a sea captain of evasion in opened habitats .
Mexican Beaded Lizard ( Heloderma horridum )
The Mexican beaded lizard , a close relative of the Gila monster , inhabits Mexico and Guatemala ’s dry forests and scrublands . grow up to 3 foot long , its black soundbox is adorned with scandalmongering or pinkish bead - corresponding scales , signaling its poisonous collation — delivered through grooved dentition . It preys on egg , small mammalian , and reptiles , storing adipose tissue in its tail for survival in arid circumstance . Nocturnal and closemouthed , it pass much of its clip underground , emerging to run . Like the Gila , its venom has potential medical uses , but it ’s seldom fatal to human race .
Common Lizard ( Zootoca vivipara )
The coarse lounge lizard , also call the viviparous lizard , is far-flung across Europe and northern Asia , from Britain to Japan . This small coinage , about 6 inches long , has a brown or gray body with drab stripes or smear , varying by region . Found in grassland , heath , and forests , it savour on stone and eats worm like spiders . Uniquely , it gives birth to populate young ( viviparous ) rather than put down orchis in colder climates , an adjustment to light summer . Its wide range and resilience make it a familiar sight in temperate zone .
Crested Gecko ( Correlophus ciliatus )
The crested gecko , native to New Caledonia , is a belittled , arboreal lounge lizard , up to 9 inch long , rediscovered in the 1990s after being thought nonextant . Its sonant , gray - to - orange tree skin feature a crest of thorn above its eyes and along its back , and its grasping tail tending mount in humid forests . Omnivorous , it eats yield , ambrosia , and insects , licking intellectual nourishment with a viscous tongue . Crested geckos lack eyelids , using their knife to clean house their eye , and their unagitated demeanour and vivacious morphs have made them a pet trade staple .
Spiny - Tailed Lizard ( genus Uromastyx )
Spiny - tail lizard , or Uromastyx , are desert - dwellers from North Africa and the Middle East , growing to 10 - 30 inches depending on the species . Their stout organic structure , in shades of yellow , green , or brown , end in a duncish , spiky tail used to obstruct burrow or swipe at predators . Herbivorous , they eat baffling desert flora like succulents , flourish in extreme heat by basking and digging shelters . Diurnal and societal , some populate in promiscuous colonies , and their salient colors during breeding time of year attract first mate . They ’re popular dearie due to their teachable nature .
Flat - tail Horned Lizard ( Phrynosoma mcallii )
The flat - tail horned lizard , found in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico , is a small , 4 - inch coinage with a extensive , flatten body and curt horns . Its sandy colouration camouflages it against sand dune , where it bury itself to invalidate heat and vulture . Feeding almost exclusively on ants , it use a quick tongue to snatch prey , and like other horned lizards , it can squirt blood from its eye as a defence . Habitat loss from development threatens this elusive coinage , constitute it a preservation stress .
Emerald Tree Monitor ( Varanus prasinus )
The emerald tree diagram monitor , from New Guinea and nearby island , is a stunning arboreal lizard , about 3 foot farsighted , with a vivid green body and a avaricious tail assembly for gripping branches . Found in tropical rainforests , it hunt insects , birds , and modest mammals with penetrating claws and tooth , using its keen pot to navigate dim canopies . Its slender physique and bright colour make it a standout among monitors , though it ’s shy and baffling in the wild . In incarceration , its intelligence and lulu make it a jimmy , if challenging , pet .
Steppe Runner ( Eremias arguta )
The steppe runner , aboriginal to Central Asia and Eastern Europe , is a small , dissipated lizard , about 6 - 8 column inch long , with a sleek , brownish or gray trunk marked by vague stripes . It thrives in steppes , deserts , and jumpy champaign , darting across receptive ground to catch insects like beetles . Diurnal and extremely fighting , it relies on focal ratio and tunnel to evade predators like hawks . Steppe Caranx crysos lay egg in flaxen soil , and their adaptability allows them to make it harsh , dry climates where few reptiles thrive .
Madagascar Day Gecko ( Phelsuma madagascariensis )
The Madagascar day gecko , from Madagascar and nearby island , is a vibrant , diurnal lounge lizard , up to 9 inches long , with a brilliant green dead body , cherry-red spot , and big , jewel - corresponding eyes . Its gummy toe pads allow it cling to tree and leaves in humid forest , where it feeds on nectar , fruit , and dirt ball . Active by day — unlike most geckos — it basks in sun and uses its smart colour to signal dominion or attract Ilex paraguariensis . Its mantrap and ease of precaution have made it a favorite in the reptilian trade .
Caucasian Agama ( Paralaudakia caucasia )
The Caucasian agama , found in the Caucasus Mountains and parts of the Middle East , is a intermediate - sized lizard , about 12 inches long , with a rugged , grey - brown body that turn blue in male during breeding . It inhabits rocky cliffs and highlands , basking on stones and eat insect or little lizards . Territorial and diurnal , male perform pushing - ups and color displays to defend their rod . Well - befit to cold , teetotal surroundings , it hibernates in winter , emerging in spring to breed and forage .
Glass Lizard ( genus Ophisaurus )
Glass lizards , found in North America , Europe , and Asia , are legless lizards often misidentify for Snake , growing up to 4 feet long . Their rigid , shiny dead body — brown , green , or yellow — go bad well when take hold of ( hence “ glass ” ) , regrowing over prison term . exist in grasslands and timberland , they hunt louse , snails , and minor rodent , using potent jaws . Unlike snakes , they have lid and rigid soundbox , and some species hold tiny leg stub . easy - moving and closelipped , they bask in open sphere but hideaway to burrows when imperil .
