Squad of lizards. Names and features of different types of lizards. Lizards have several characteristic features

Lizards are the largest group of reptiles. In everyday life, lizards are often called generally all reptiles with legs (excluding turtles and crocodiles), but in the scientific community this title is mainly worn by representatives of the family of real lizards and several other species. Here they will be discussed in this article, and other related species - skinks, geckos, agamas, iguanas, monitor lizards - will be considered separately.

Pearl or decorated lizard (Lacerta lepida).

Real lizards are mostly small to medium in size. The largest member of the family - the pearl lizard - reaches a length of 80 cm, other species usually do not exceed 20-40 cm, one of the smallest are numerous foot-and-mouth disease, their length together with the tail is not more than 10 cm. A distinctive feature of real lizards is movable eyelids ( the main difference from snakes, in which the eyelids are fused), an elongated, thin body with a long tail and medium-sized paws. In desert species, the paws have long fingers with lateral teeth, which allows the lizard not to fall into quicksand. Another interesting feature of lizards is the ability to autotomy (self-mutilation). Of course, lizards do not mutilate themselves for no reason, but in case of danger, they can break the spine in the tail section by contraction of the muscles and discard the tail. The tail continues to writhe and distracts the attention of the enemy, the lizard eventually grows a new tail.

The tail always breaks in the same “programmed” place, if the growth point is broken, then the lizard can grow two tails.

The coloration of real lizards is always a combination of several colors, usually green, brown and gray. In desert species, the color is yellowish, exactly imitating the texture of sand. At the same time, many species have bright parts of the body (throat, abdomen, spots on the sides), painted in blue, azure, yellow, red. In lizards, sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed: males are slightly larger than females and are brighter colored (although the pattern is the same for both sexes), the pattern of young individuals differs from adults. Lizards are voiceless and do not make any sounds, with the exception of Stehlin and Simon lizards from the Canary Islands, these species squeak in moments of danger.

Quick, or common lizard (Lacerta agilis).

Real lizards live only in the Old World - in Europe, Asia and Africa. In the south of Asia, the islands of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar, they are not. Several species have been introduced to North America, where they successfully settled in the western United States. The habitats of lizards are diverse, they can be seen in meadows, steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, forests, gardens, shrubs, mountains, river banks and cliffs. Lizards stay on the ground or climb low shrubs, grass stalks and tree trunks. All species are able to move along vertical surfaces, clinging to cracks in the bark and uneven ground, but mountain species have achieved special perfection in this. Rock lizards and species close to them can run along bare steep rocks, jump from a height of 3-4 m.

The long tail not only does not interfere with the lizard, but also helps it to maneuver between the grass stalks.

These animals are diurnal and only representatives of the family of nocturnal lizards (close to real ones) are active mainly at night. In any case, lizards prefer to go hunting in the morning and at sunset, at noon they are less active. Lizards live alone and adhere to permanent habitats. They live in burrows, cracks in the soil, bark, crevices between stones. These are very mobile and cautious animals, they usually sit and look around the surroundings, seeing a suspicious movement, freeze for a while, and when the enemy approaches, they run away. They run very fast, rearranging all the limbs one by one, some desert species can run several meters on their hind legs or burrow into the sand. In addition, in the deserts, lizards are often forced to raise their legs in turn to avoid burns from hot sand.

Reticulated foot-and-mouth disease (Eremias grammica) lives in deserts, long fingers help it to move along the sand.

Lizards feed almost exclusively on invertebrates, only the largest individuals can catch a small rodent, snake or eat bird masonry. Lizards usually prey on insects and spiders, and they catch quite mobile species (butterflies, locusts, grasshoppers, etc.), less often they eat snails, slugs, and worms. These animals do not have special adaptations for hunting (sticky tongue, poison). Lizards first sneak up on prey, and then with a sharp throw overtake and catch with their mouths, when eating, they first chew and crush the hard wings of insects, tear off inedible parts, and then swallow. Some species from time to time eat the fruits of plants (opuntia, cherries, sweet cherries, grapes, viburnum).

Stehlin's lizard (Gallotia stehlini) eats prickly pear fruit.

Small species breed several times a season, large ones once a year. The breeding season falls on spring-early summer and depends on the habitat (the further north the range, the later the mating season begins). The males look out for the female and pursue her by running. If two males meet each other, then they approach the opponent sideways, trying to appear larger. The smaller one surrenders and yields, if the rivals are equal in size, then they begin to bite, and their fights are fierce and often accompanied by bloodshed. The winner most often grabs the female by the abdomen near the hind legs and mates with her. The mating ritual of a three-lined lizard is rather strange: the male grabs the female by the back of the body, lifts her above the ground so that she rests on the soil only with her front paws, and starts running with the female in her mouth. In rock lizards and other mountain species, the sex ratio is sharply disturbed, the proportion of males in the population is 0-5%, so females lay eggs without fertilization. This method of reproduction is called parthenogenesis.

The female lays from 2-4 (in small species) to 18 (in large species) eggs. Eggs are buried in the soil, forest litter, hide in burrows, under stones. The duration of incubation depends on the ambient temperature and species, it lasts from 3 weeks to 1.5 months. Parents do not care about laying and offspring. Young lizards immediately after hatching begin an independent life and are able to get food themselves. After 3 months of pregnancy, viviparous lizards give birth to live cubs, in the north of the range the embryos can occasionally even overwinter in the mother's body, and in the extreme south of the range the same species lays eggs. The life expectancy of lizards usually does not exceed 3-5 years.

Viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara, or Zootoca vivipara).

In nature, these animals have many enemies. They are hunted by snakes, storks, cranes, kingfishers, crows, shrikes, small falcons, hoopoes. To protect the lizard, they use different methods: fast running with sharp unexpected turns, burrowing into the sand or forest floor, freezing (a hidden lizard cannot be thrown off a bush), simple disguise (a lizard, for example, can hide on the back of a tree trunk, furtively watching the pursuer ). The caught lizard throws off its tail or bites; it is not so easy to hold this nimble animal in your hands. But numerous mountain species of lizards (rocky, Armenian, etc.), when caught, sometimes grab themselves by the hind leg and curl up into a ring. This position is not accidental, because the main enemy of these species is snakes, which always swallow their prey from the head, but such a living ring cannot be swallowed by a snake.

Lizards do not harm people, but there are benefits from them. These animals exterminate harmful insects and are themselves an integral link in the food chain. A number of species with a very narrow range are listed in the Red Book, their numbers are negatively affected by plowing and fires.

A lizard is an animal that belongs to the class of reptiles (reptiles). To date, almost 6,000 species are known. Representatives of families can be very different, some rare species are listed in the Red Book. Both reptiles with legs and some legless forms are called lizards. Reptiles can be vegetarians and eat animal food. Some varieties are suitable for keeping at home.

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Description

Unlike snakes, these reptiles have divided eyelids. Their body is elastic, elongated, ends in a long tail. Paws are proportional, clawed.

According to the general characteristics, the body is covered with keratinized scales, which change several times a year. The tongue can have a different shape, it is usually movable and extends from the mouth. It is with them that lizards catch prey. On both sides of the head are the organs of hearing, which are covered by eardrums.

real lizard

The most common reptile is the real lizard. Her body length is 40 cm.

Teeth are used to tear and grind food. Monitor lizards cut their prey with them.

The only venomous species of lizard is the gila-tooth.



Reptiles live on every continent except Antarctica. Representatives familiar to Russia - real lizards - live almost everywhere. All species move on different surfaces, firmly clinging to irregularities. Rock lizards are excellent jumpers, the height of their jump reaches 4 m.



Tail

Lizards are capable of autotomy, which is used in case of danger: muscle contraction allows you to break the cartilaginous formations of the vertebrae and discard part of the tail, narrowing the blood vessels, while losing blood almost never happens. This distracts the enemy, and the animal avoids the attack.

The tail of the reptile is quickly restored in a shortened form. Sometimes not one, but several grows back.



Color

Lizards have a color that combines green, white, gray and brown. The species that live in the desert exactly repeat the shade of the surrounding area. This is their defense mechanism.

Desert species are able to change body color. These include calot - a reptile with a red head. Among reptiles there are albinos - these are white lizards, devoid of pigment.



The giant lizard has a black and yellow color.



giant lizard

Salamanders are black with yellow spots.



Salamander

Geckos have special colors. Some of them are pink with a blue tail.





Floor

There are a number of signs that allow you to roughly determine gender. It is possible to distinguish a male from a femaleonly in adulthood, as sexual dimorphism developslate.

Male individuals of some species, according to the description, have a crest on the back and head, large pores on the hips. Another feature of the male is the spurs on the paws.

The sex of individual species can be recognized by the throat "bags", preanal scutes and enlarged scales behind the cloaca.

However, only a blood test for testosterone levels can accurately distinguish a male from a female. They make it at the vet.

Varieties

Lizard species are divided into 6 infraorders, which consist of 37 families.

Each of them has its own characteristics.

Skinks

The order includes 7 families with the following names:

• real lizards;
• night lizards;
• herrosaurus;
• skink;
• teiids;
• belttails;
• hymnophthalmids.



Large Herrosaur

iguanas

The order includes 14 families. Some of the representatives of these lizards are real iguanas. These are large reptiles that can reach a length of 2 m. They live mainly in tropical forests.

A prominent representative of the detachment is also a chameleon that inhabits Africa, Madagascar, the countries of the East, the USA. Its peculiarity lies in the ability to change skin color depending on the environment.



Chameleon

In the forests of Cameroon, there is a four-horned chameleon, which got its name because of the characteristic outgrowths on its head. In males, only three "horns" can be developed; in females, they usually do not have them.

geckos

The order consists of 7 families.

Its representative can be called a scalefoot, which lives in Australia.



Scalelegs

Fusiform

The order includes 2 superfamilies and 5 families.

These include monitor lizards, earless monitor lizards, fusiform, legless, xenosaurs.

Large xenosaurus

worm-like

The detachment consists of 2 genera and a family of worm-like lizards, which outwardly resemble worms.

They inhabit Indonesia, China, New Guinea, Philippines.



worm lizard

monitor lizards

The order includes several families, which consist of the largest lizards.

Typical representatives are monitor lizard and gilatooth, which are found in the United States and Mexico.



komodo dragon

Suborder lizards

The order includes the superfamily Shinisaurus.

It includes one species, the crocodile shinizaurus.



Crocodile shinizaurus

record holders

Of the currently existing representatives of lizards, the largest is the Komodo monitor lizard. Some individuals have huge dimensions, reaching three meters in length and a weight of 85 kg in adulthood. A lizard weighing 91.7 kg is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. These reptiles eat small animals, but can also attack larger prey. The Komodo dragon feeds on wild boars, wild goats, and cattle.

The smallest lizards in the world are the Haraguan sphero and the Virginian round-toed gecko. Their dimensions do not exceed 19 mm, weight - 0.2 g.

home views

Various geckos are especially popular with owners.



Pink with gray tail hemiteconix

If you need a calm pet for children, it is better to havegemiteconyx. They have different colors depending on the breed. Their tail accumulates nutrients, which they use as a reserve in the absence of food. Because of this, the tail looks gray, while the body is most often pink. This is a reptile with a very expressive look.



Felzuma

If you want to keep at homethe animal is more active, you can choose a felsum. She has a beautiful emerald color. It can be observed during daylight hours.

At home, they also contain varieties of agamas. The most popular of them are bearded and woody. The first got its name due to the cervical bag, which, when frightened or during the mating season, stretches and darkens. Tree, or black-throated agama is also able to change skin tone. Such pets are reluctant to make contact with the owner and prefer to hide.



Many lizards eat insects. They prefer various crickets, mealworms, raw eggs or pieces of meat, a mixture of chopped boiled chicken, carrots and lettuce.

Supplement food with supplements of vitamins and minerals. In a terrarium for home maintenance, there must be water. If the pet refuses food, but drinks, there is no reason for concern: the lizard simply reduced its activity and did not get hungry.

reproduction

The mating season is in spring and summer. Large species breed once a season, small ones - several times a year. Males are in conflict, approaching each other from the side, trying to look bigger. The small one surrenders without a fight and retreats.

If the males are of the same size, a fight ensues between them, during which they use their teeth. The winner gets the right to the female. In some species, a violation in the sex ratio leads to parthenogenesis - females lay eggs without the participation of males. In lizards, there are 2 types of reproduction: live birth and laying eggs.

Females of small reptiles lay no more than 4 eggs, large ones - up to 18. The mass of one varies from 4 to 200 g. The size of a round-toed gecko egg is no more than 6 mm in diameter. In the monitor lizard, it reaches 10 cm in length.

The laying of females is buried in the ground, hidden in burrows. The incubation period lasts from 3 weeks to one and a half months. It depends on the climate. Having hatched, the cubs begin an independent life.

Pregnancy lasts 3 months, the embryos of northern species hibernate in the womb. Their life span does not exceed 5 years.

Lizards, being a suborder of the class of reptiles, are its most numerous group. There are more than 3,500 species and live on all continents except Antarctica. In this article, we will consider the internal structure, skeleton, physiological features of the lizard, the species and names of their families.

Lizards are amazing creatures, which are distinguished from the rest of the fauna by several interesting facts. The first fact is the size of representatives of different populations of lizards. So, for example, the smallest lizard Brookesia Micra is only 28 mm long, while the largest representative of this group of reptiles, the Indonesian monitor lizard, also known as the Komodo dragon, has a body length exceeding 3 meters, with a weight of about one and a half centners.

The second fact that makes these reptiles popular not only among biologists, but also among ordinary people, is why and how the lizard drops its tail. This ability is called autotomy and is a method of self-preservation. When a lizard runs away from a predator, he can grab her by the tail, which actually poses a threat to the life of the reptile. In order to save their lives, some species of medium-sized lizards are able to shed their tail, which grows again after a while. To avoid large blood loss during autotomy, the tail of the lizard is equipped with a special group of muscles that reduce blood vessels.

In addition to all that is listed above, lizards in nature have the quality of skillful disguise, adapting to the color scheme of the environment. And some of them, especially the chameleon, can take on the color of an adjacent object in a matter of moments. How does this happen? The fact is that the skin cells of a chameleon, consisting of several almost transparent layers, have special processes and pigment, which, under the influence of nerve impulses, can shrink or expand. At the moment of contraction of the process, the pigment is collected in the center of the cell and becomes barely noticeable, and when the process is unclenched, the pigment spreads throughout the cell, staining the skin in a certain color.

Skeleton and internal structure of a lizard

The body of a lizard consists of such parts as the head, neck, torso, tail and limbs. The body is covered with scales on the outside, consisting of smaller and softer horn formations compared to fish scales, there are no sweat glands on the skin. A characteristic feature is also a long muscular organ - the tongue, which is involved in feeling objects. The eyes of a lizard, unlike other reptiles, are equipped with a movable eyelid. Musculature has a greater degree of development than that of reptiles.

The lizard skeleton also has some features. It consists of the cervical, shoulder, lumbar and pelvic regions, which are connected by the spine. The skeleton of the lizard is built in such a way that, when fused, the ribs (the first five) form a closed sternum from below, which is a characteristic feature of this group of reptiles compared to other reptiles. The chest performs a protective function, reducing the risk of mechanical damage to internal organs, and it can also increase in volume during breathing. The limbs of the lizard, like those of other terrestrial ones, are five-fingered, but unlike amphibians, they are located in a more vertical position, which provides some elevation of the body above the ground and, as a result, faster movement. Significant assistance in movement is also provided by the long claws with which the paws of the reptile are equipped. In some species, they are especially tenacious and help their master deftly climb trees and rocky terrain.

The lizard skeleton differs from other groups of terrestrial representatives of the fauna by the presence of only 2 vertebrae in the sacral spine. Also, a distinctive feature is the unique structure of the caudal vertebrae, namely in the non-ossifying layer between them, due to which the lizard's tail is painlessly torn off.

What are the similarities between a lizard and a newt?

Some people confuse lizards with newts - representatives of the infraorder. What are the similarities between a lizard and a newt? Representatives of these two superclasses are similar to each other only externally, the internal structure of newts corresponds to the anatomy of amphibians. Nevertheless, from the point of view of physiology, both lizards and newts visually look the same: a snake-like head, movable eyelids on the eyes, a long body with five-fingered limbs on the sides and sometimes with a crest on the back, a tail capable of regeneration.

Lizard food

The lizard belongs to cold-blooded animals, that is, its body temperature changes depending on the ambient temperature, so these reptiles are most active during the day, when the air warms up the most. Most of them are carnivorous lizards, the species and names of which include more than one thousand individuals. The prey of predatory lizards directly depends on the size of the reptile itself. So, small and medium-sized individuals feed on all sorts of invertebrate animals, such as insects, spiders, worms, mollusks. The victims of large lizards are medium-sized vertebrates (frogs, snakes, small birds or lizards). The exception is the Komodo monitor lizard, which, due to its large size, can afford to hunt larger game (deer, pigs, and even medium-sized buffaloes).

Another part of the lizards is herbivorous, eating leaves, shoots and other vegetation. However, there are also omnivorous species, such as Madagascar geckos, which eat plant foods (fruits, nectar) along with insects.

Lizard classification

The variety of lizards is quite impressive and includes 6 superfamilies, subdivided into 37 families in total:

• Iguanas.
• Geckos.
• Skinks.
• Fusiform.
• Monitor lizards.
• Worm-like.

Each of these infraorders has initializing features determined by the conditions of the habitat and the intended role in the trophic chain.

iguanas

Iguanas are an infraorder with many varieties of life forms, in which not only the external, but often the internal structure of the lizard differs. Iguana likes include such well-known families of lizards as the iguana, agamo and chameleon family. Iguanas prefer a warm and humid climate, so their habitat is the southern part of North America, South America, as well as some tropical islands (Madagascar, Cuba, Hawaii, etc.).

Representatives of the infraorder iguanas can be recognized by the characteristic strongly elongated lower jaw due to pleurodont teeth. Also, a distinctive feature of iguanas is the presence of a spiny crest on the back and tail, the size of which is usually larger in males. The paw of the iguana lizard is equipped with 5 fingers, which are crowned with claws (in arboreal species, the claws are much longer than those of terrestrial representatives). In addition, iguanas have helmet-like growths on their heads and throat pouches that serve as a threat signaling tool and also play a large role in mating.

The body shape of iguanas is predominantly of two types:

1. A high body with compressed sides, which smoothly passes into a thickened tail. This body shape is mainly found in tree-dwelling individuals, such as the genus Polychrus in the South American range.
2. A flattened disc-shaped body - found in representatives of iguanas living on earth.

geckos

The gecko-like infraorder includes the Cepkopale, Scale-footed and Eublepharidae families. The main and common feature of all representatives of this infraorder is a special chromosome set and a special muscle near the ear. Most geckos do not have a zygomatic arch, and their tongue is thick and not forked.

• The family of gecko (chain-toed) lizards has been living on Earth for more than 50 million years. The lizard's skeleton and physiological features are adapted for living all over the world. They have the most extensive habitat both in hot climatic zones and in temperate latitudes. The number of species of the family is more than a thousand.
• The Scalefoot family is one of the outwardly very reminiscent of snakes. You can distinguish them from snakes by the characteristic clicking sound that they are able to make to communicate with each other. The body, like that of snakes, is long, smoothly turning into a tail, which is adapted for autotomy. The head of the lizard is covered with symmetrical shields. The population of Cheshuenogs includes 7 genera and 41 species. Habitat - Australia, Guinea and nearby land areas.
• The Eublepharidae family are small lizards about 25 cm long with a variegated color, leading a nocturnal lifestyle. Carnivores, feed on insects. They live on the American, Asian and African continents.

Skinks

Representatives of skink-like lizards are common on all continents with a temperate, tropical and subtropical climate. These are mainly land dwellers, although there are also semi-aquatic individuals, those who spend a greater period of their lives on trees. This infraorder includes the following families:

Spindle Lizards

The infraorder of fusiform lizards is characterized by small scales with bone plates not fused together from below. Among the spindle-shaped lizards, there are both legless species and lizards with the usual body structure with five-fingered limbs. The infraorder includes three families:

• The Xenosaur family differs from other families in its developed limbs and heterogeneous scales. Highlights the presence of movable eyelids and auditory openings. The family includes only two genera with habitats in Central America and China.
• The spindle family has strong jaws equipped with blunt teeth. Basically, these are carnivorous lizards that reproduce by live birth. The family includes about 10 genera and 80 species, living mainly on the American continent. The size of adults ranges from 50-60 cm.
• The Legless family has only two species with a habitat in Mexico and California. They are distinguished by the absence of limbs, auditory openings and bone plates.

monitor lizards

The infraorder Varaniformes includes one genus - Monitor lizards - and about 70 species. Monitor lizards live in Africa, with the exception of Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. The largest species of monitor lizards, the Komodo monitor lizard, is a real champion among all types of lizards in size, its length reaches 3 meters and its weight is more than 120 kg. His supper could very well be a whole pig. The smallest species is short-tailed) does not exceed 28 cm in length.

Description of the monitor lizard: an elongated body, an elongated neck, limbs in a semi-straightened position, a forked tongue. Monitor lizards are the only genus of lizards in which the skull is completely ossified, there are open ear holes on the sides. The eyes are well developed, equipped with a round pupil and a movable eyelid. The scales on the back consist of small oval or round plates, on the belly the plates take on a rectangular shape, on the head they are polygonal. A powerful body ends with a no less powerful tail, with which monitor lizards are able to defend themselves, inflicting strong blows on the enemy. In aquatic lizards, the tail is used to balance when swimming; in arboreal species, it is quite flexible and tenacious, helping to climb branches. Monitor lizards differ from most other lizards in the structure of the heart (four-chambered), similar to mammals, while the heart of a lizard from other infraorders has three chambers.

In terms of lifestyle, terrestrial species predominate among monitor lizards, but there are also those that spend a lot of time in the water and on trees. The body of the lizard is adapted to living in various biotopes, they can be found in the desert, and in humid forests, and on the sea coast. Most of them are predators, active during the daytime, only two species of monitor lizards are herbivores. Various mollusks, insects, fish, snakes (even poisonous!), birds, reptile eggs, other types of lizards become prey for carnivorous lizards, and large monitor lizards often become cannibals, eating their young and immature relatives. The entire genus of monitor lizards belongs to the oviparous lizards.

Monitor lizards are important not only as a link in the food chain for their habitat, but also for anthropological activities. Thus, the skin of these lizards is used in the textile industry as a material for the manufacture of various haberdashery and even shoes. In some states, the local population eats the meat of these animals for food. In medicine, monitor lizard blood is used to make antiseptics. And, of course, these lizards often become inhabitants of terrariums.

worm-like lizards

The infraorder of worm-like lizards consists of one family, the representatives of which are small, legless individuals, outwardly similar to worms. They live on the ground and lead a burrowing lifestyle. Distributed in the forest zone in Indonesia, the Philippines, India, China, New Guinea.

Lizards (lat. Lacertilia, formerly Sauria)- suborder of the order of scaly reptiles.

The suborder of lizards is not a biologically clearly defined category, but includes all those species that do not belong to the other two scaly suborders - snakes and two-legged. Snakes are probably descendants of varanoid lizards and, according to biological principles, can also be considered lizards, but are conditionally distinguished into a separate suborder. In total, there are over 4300 species of lizards.

Unlike snakes, most lizards (with the exception of some legless forms) have more or less developed limbs. Although legless lizards look like snakes, they retain the sternum, and most have limb belts; unlike snakes, the left and right halves of the jaw apparatus are fixedly fused. A characteristic feature of the suborder is also incomplete ossification of the anterior part of the braincase and no more than two sacral vertebrae.

Lizards have dry, scaly skin, four clawed limbs, and a long tail.

Lizards move mainly on land, but some can swim and even almost fly.

Lizards have very well developed eyesight, many see the world in color.

As for size, there are chameleons or geckos, the length of which does not exceed a few centimeters, and there are also giants, for example, the length of a monitor lizard can approach three or more meters.

In legless lizards, the eyes, as a rule, are equipped with movable separate eyelids, and in snakes, the eyelids are fused, forming transparent “lenses” in front of the eyes. They also differ in a number of other features, such as, for example, the structure and structure of the scales.

Many species of lizards are able to shed part of their tail (autotomy). After some time, the tail is restored, but in a shortened form. During autotomy, special muscles compress the blood vessels in the tail, and there is almost no bleeding.

Most lizards are predators. Small and medium-sized species feed mainly on various invertebrates: insects, arachnids, mollusks, and worms. Large predatory lizards (lizards, tegus) attack small vertebrates: other lizards, frogs, snakes, small mammals and birds, and also eat the eggs of birds and reptiles. The largest modern lizard, the Komodo monitor lizard (Varanus komodoensis), attacks such large animals as deer, wild pigs and Asiatic buffaloes. Some carnivorous species of lizards are stenophages, that is, they specialize in eating a particular type of food. For example, Moloch (Moloch horridus) feeds only on ants, and the pink-tongued skink (Hemisphaeriodon gerrardii) in nature eats exclusively terrestrial mollusks.

Some large iguana, agama and skink lizards are completely or almost completely herbivorous. Such species eat fruits, leaves, young shoots and flowers of plants.

Among the lizards, there are many omnivorous species that use both animal and vegetable food (for example, blue-tongued skinks, many agamas). Madagascar day geckos, in addition to insects, willingly eat nectar and pollen. As for reproduction, most lizards lay eggs, but there are also viviparous ones. Insidious reptiles are alien to maternal instinct. Almost all species of lizards, after the appearance of offspring, stop worrying about him.

scientific classification

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Reptiles
Order: Scaled
Suborder: Lizards

In the suborder of lizards there are 6 infraorders with 37 families:

• Infraorder Iguania - Iguanas
• Family Agamidae - Agamidae
• Family Chamaeleonidae - Chameleons
• Family Corytophanidae
• Family Crotaphytidae - Collared iguanas
• Family Dactyloidae
• Family Hoplocercidae
• Family Iguanidae - Iguanidae
• Family Leiocephalidae - Masked iguanas
• Family Leiosauridae
• Family Liolaemidae
• Family Opluridae
• Family Phrynosomatidae
• Family Polychrotidae - Anoles
• Family Tropiduridae
• Infraorder Gekkota - Geckos
• Family Gekkonidae - Geckos
• Family Carphodactylidae
• Family Diplodactylidae
• Family Eublepharidae
• Family Phyllodactylidae
• Family Sphaerodactylidae
• Family Pygopodidae - Scalefoot
• Infraorder Scincomorpha - Skinks
• Family Cordylidae - Belttails
• Family Gerrhosauridae - Gerrosaurus
• Family Gymnophthalmidae
• Family Teiidae - Teiidae
• Family Lacertidae - True lizards
• Family Scincidae - Skinks
• Family Xantusiidae - Night lizards
• Infraorder Diploglossa - Fusiformes
• Family Anguidae - Spindleworms
• Family Anniellidae - Legless lizards
• Family Xenosauridae - Xenosaurs
• Infraorder Dibamia
• Family Dibamidae - Worm-like lizards
• Infraorder Varanoidea - Varanoiformes (Platynota)
• Family Helodermatidae - Yadozuby
• Family Lanthanotidae - Earless monitor lizards
• Family Varanidae - monitor lizards
• Family †Mosasauridae - Mosasaurs
• Superfamily Shinisauroidea
• Family Shinisauridae

Lizards are the most numerous and widespread group of modern reptiles. The appearance of lizards is extremely diverse. Their head, body, legs and tail may be modified to some extent and deviate considerably from the usual type familiar to everyone. In some species, the body is noticeably compressed from the sides, in others it is valky or flattened from top to bottom, in others it is cylindrically shortened or elongated, like in snakes, from which some lizards are almost indistinguishable in appearance. Most species have two pairs of developed five-fingered limbs, but in some cases only the front or back pair of legs is preserved, and the number of fingers can be reduced to four, three, two and one, or they are completely absent.

Most lizards are characterized by incomplete ossification of the anterior part of the skull, the presence of an sometimes incompletely closed upper temporal arch, a strong fusion of the upper jaws with the rest of the cranial bones, and the presence of special columnar bones connecting the roof of the skull to its base. The jaws of lizards are equipped, as a rule, with well-developed single-apex or multi-apex teeth, which are attached from the inside (pleurodont) or to the outer edge (acrodont teeth). Often there are also teeth on the palatine, pterygoid, and some other bones. Often they are differentiated into false canines, incisors and molars. Acrodont teeth wear down as the animal ages and are no longer replaced.

In species with pleurodont teeth, the broken or lost tooth is replaced by a new one growing under or next to the old one.

The language of lizards is extremely diverse in structure, form, and partly in the function it performs. Wide, fleshy and relatively inactive in geckos and agamas, it is strongly elongated, deeply forked, very mobile and able to be drawn into a special vagina in monitor lizards. The bifurcation of the tongue observed in many species, combined with its high mobility, is associated, in addition to touch, also with the function of the Jacobson organ that opens inside the mouth, which has already been mentioned above. A short and thick tongue is often used when capturing prey, and in chameleons it is thrown far from the mouth for this.

The skin of lizards is covered with horny scales, the nature and location of which varies greatly, which is of decisive importance for taxonomy. In many species, large scales located on the head and other parts of the body increase to the size of scutes, each of which receives a special name. Often on the head and body there are tubercles, spikes, horns, ridges or other horny outgrowths formed by modified scales and sometimes reaching considerable sizes in males.

Some groups of lizards are characterized by the occurrence under the scales of the body and head of special bone plates - osteoderms, which, articulated with each other, can form a continuous bone shell. In all species, the upper horny layer of the scales is shed during periodic molts and is replaced by a new one.

The shape and size of the tail is very diverse. As a rule, it gradually becomes thinner towards the end and differs in considerable length, noticeably exceeding the body and head combined. However, in some cases it is shortened like a blunt cone, thickened at the end in the form of a radish, flattened spatulately, or has another unusual shape. More often oval or round in cross section, it is often compressed in a horizontal or vertical plane in the form of an oar. Finally, in a number of lizards, the tail is tenacious or capable of twisting like a spiral.

Many lizards have the ability to involuntarily break off their tail as a result of a sharp contraction of the muscles. The fracture occurs along a special non-ossified layer across one of the vertebrae, and not between them, where the connection is stronger. The discarded tail bounces to the side and twitches convulsively, sometimes retaining mobility for up to half a day. Soon the tail grows back, but the vertebrae are not restored, but are replaced by a cartilaginous rod, which is why a new separation is possible only higher than the previous one. Often, the torn tail is not completely separated, but a new one still grows, resulting in the appearance of two-tailed and multi-tailed individuals. It is interesting that in many cases the scales of the reconstructed tail differ from the normal one, and moreover, it has features of more ancient species.

The dry skin of lizards is devoid of glands, but some roundheads (Phrynocephalus) have real skin glands on their backs, the function of which is not entirely clear.

In representatives of a number of families, on the lower surface of the thighs, the so-called femoral pores are arranged in rows - special iron-like formations, from which columns of hardened secretion protrude in males during the breeding season. In other species, such formations are located in front of the anus or on its sides, respectively, called the anal and inguinal pores.

The smallest known lizards (some geckos) reach a length of only 3.5-4 cm, while the largest monitor lizards grow at least up to 3 m, weighing 150 kg. As a rule, males are larger than females, but in some cases, females, on the contrary, are noticeably larger than males.

The eyes of lizards are in most cases well developed and protected by eyelids, of which only the lower one is movable, while the upper one is greatly shortened and usually loses its mobility. Along with this, in many species, the moving eyelids are replaced by a solid transparent shell covering the eye like a watch glass, like in snakes. On the example of a number of species from various systematic groups, it is easy to trace the gradual stages of the transition from opaque separate eyelids to the appearance of a first transparent window in the still mobile lower eyelid and further to the complete fusion of the lower eyelid with the upper one and the formation of an already immovable window in it. Such fused eyelids are found in most nocturnal lizards - geckos, a number of legless and burrowing species, as well as in some skinks and other lizards, as well as a diurnal and nocturnal lifestyle. In many burrowing species, the eyes are greatly reduced in size, and in some cases they are completely overgrown with skin, through which they appear in the form of faintly visible dark spots. Nocturnal lizards, as a rule, have significantly enlarged eyes with a pupil in the form of a vertical slit with straight or sawtooth cut edges. In the retina of the eyes of diurnal lizards there are special elements of color vision - cones, thanks to which they are able to distinguish all colors of the solar spectrum. In most nocturnal species, light-sensitive elements are represented by rods, and the perception of colors is not available to them.

As a rule, lizards have good hearing. The tympanic membrane may be located openly on the sides of the head, hidden under the scales of the body, or may be completely overgrown with skin, so that the external auditory opening disappears. Sometimes it, together with the tympanic cavity, is reduced, and the animal is able to perceive sound only in a seismic way, that is, by pressing its whole body against the substrate.

Most lizards emit only a dull hiss or snort. More or less loud sounds - squeaking, clicking, chirping or croaking - are capable of producing different geckos, which is achieved using the tongue or rubbing horny scales against each other. In addition to geckos, some can also “squeal” quite loudly. sand lizards(Psammodromus).

The sense of smell is less developed than other senses, but some lizards may well find prey by smell.

The nostrils of many, especially desert species, are closed with special valves that prevent sand from entering the nasal cavity. Some lizards have a well-developed sense of taste and willingly drink, for example, sugar syrup, choosing it among tasteless solutions. However, their taste sensitivity to bitter substances is negligible. Many lizards have tactile hairs formed from keratinized cells of the upper layer of the skin and regularly located along the edges of individual scales. In different places of the trunk and head, in addition, special tactile spots are often located, on which sensitive cells are concentrated.

Many lizards have a so-called third, or parietal, eye, usually noticeable as a small light spot in the center of one of the scutes covering the back of the head. In its structure, it somewhat resembles an ordinary eye and can perceive certain light stimuli, transmitting them along a special nerve to the brain. Acting on the most important endocrine gland - the pituitary gland, light signals stimulate the sexual activity of animals, which occurs only at a certain duration of daylight hours. According to the latest data, this organ also produces vitamins of the D group necessary for the body. However, the mechanism of action of the parietal eye is still not completely elucidated.

The coloration of lizards is extremely diverse and, as a rule, harmonizes well with the environment. In species that live in deserts, light, sandy tones predominate; lizards living on dark rocks often have a brown, almost black color, and lizards living on trunks and branches of trees are dotted with brown and brown spots resembling bark and moss. Many woody species are colored in the color of green foliage. A similar coloration is characteristic of a number of agamas, iguanas and geckos. The general coloration of the body largely depends on the nature of the pattern, which can be composed of individual symmetrically located spots, longitudinal or transverse stripes and rings, rounded eyes, or spots and specks randomly scattered throughout the body. In combination with the color of the main background of the body, these patterns further camouflage the animal in the surrounding area, hiding it from enemies. Diurnal species are characterized by very bright reds, blues and yellows, while nocturnal species are usually more uniformly colored. The coloration of some lizards varies significantly depending on sex and age, with males and juveniles usually more brightly colored.

A number of species tend to quickly change color under the influence of changes in the environment or under the influence of internal states - excitement, fright, hunger, etc. This ability is inherent in some iguanas, geckos, agamas and other lizards. The maximum number of species of yashvet lizards is in the tropical and subtropical zones of the globe, in countries with a temperate climate there are fewer of them, and the farther to the north and south, the more their number is declining. For example, only one species reaches the Arctic Circle - the viviparous lizard.

The life of some lizards is closely connected with water, and although there are no real marine forms among lizards, one of them is Galapagos iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus) penetrates the coastal waters of the ocean.

In the mountains, lizards rise to the level of eternal snows, living at an altitude of up to 5000 meters above sea level.

Under specific environmental conditions, lizards acquire the corresponding features of specialization. So, in desert forms, special horny scallops develop on the sides of the fingers - sandy skis, which allow you to quickly move along the loose sand surface and dig holes. In other cases, such skis are replaced by extensions of the fingers or the formation of special membranes between them, resembling swimming ones.

Lizards living in trees and rocks usually have long and prehensile limbs with sharp claws and often a prehensile tail that aids in climbing. Many geckos that spend their whole lives on vertical surfaces have special extensions on the underside of their fingers with tiny tenacious hairs that can attach to the substrate. In many limbless and burrowing lizards, the body is elongated serpentine. Such adaptations to certain living conditions in lizards are extremely different, and almost always they concern not only the features of the external structure or anatomy, but also affect many important physiological functions of the body associated with nutrition, reproduction, water metabolism, rhythm of activity, thermoregulation, etc. d.

The optimum environmental temperature, most favorable for the life of lizards, lies in the range of 26-42 ° C, and in tropical and desert species it is higher than in the inhabitants of the temperate zone, and in nocturnal forms, as a rule, it is lower than in daytime ones. When the temperature rises above the optimum, the lizards hide in the shade, and when the limit temperatures are established for a long time, they completely stop their activity, falling into the state of the so-called summer hibernation. The latter is often observed in desert and arid regions in the south. In temperate latitudes, lizards leave for wintering in autumn, which in different species lasts from 1.5-2 to 7 months a year. Often they overwinter several tens or even hundreds of individuals in one shelter.

The whole life of lizards takes place within a rather limited territory, which varies widely in different species from two or three to several tens, hundreds or thousands of square meters. As a rule, in individuals of different sexes and ages, the size of the habitat area is different, and in young people it is larger than in adults, and in females it is often larger than in males. Sometimes within the main area there is an even more limited "center of activity" where the shelter is located. In woody species, the area is often limited to one or more trees, and sometimes only a separate branch or trunk segment. The habitats of individuals usually overlap to some extent, however, as a rule, only one adult lizard of a given species lives in the centers of activity.

As shelters, lizards serve their own or burrows belonging to other animals. Many take refuge in cracks or voids between stones, under the bark and hollows of trees, in heaps of fallen leaves or brushwood, and other similar places; some settle in the nests of ants and termites, getting along well with their restless inhabitants. Often, in addition to the main one, there are several more temporary shelters located in various places on the site. Possessing a good topographical memory, lizards unmistakably find their shelter, even if they are far away from it. Special studies have established that at least some of them are able to navigate by determining the direction of the sun, like birds and some other animals.

The degree of mobility and the manner of movement in different lizards are very different. Some legless forms burrow in the ground like worms. Larger legless lizards move, serpentine curving with their whole body. Species with underdeveloped limbs act in the same way, drawing their legs close to the body and practically not using them when moving.

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In lizards, the transition from real crawling on the belly to the gradual lifting of the body above the substrate and, finally, to movement with the torso raised high on the legs is clearly traced. Inhabitants of open spaces are characterized by movement at a fast trot, and many of them switch to running on two legs, which is observed not only in exotic, but also in some species of our fauna. Curiously, the South American iguana Basiliscus americanus can even run short distances in this state through the water, slapping its surface with its hind legs. The ability to run fast is combined, as a rule, with the presence of a long tail, which plays the role of a balancer, as well as a rudder for turns on the run.

Many geckos move in very short dashes, staying in one place for a long time. Arboreal species develop the ability to climb, which often involves a prehensile tail. Finally, some specialized forms, such as flying dragons(Draco), are capable of gliding flight thanks to skin folds on the sides of the body, supported by highly elongated ribs. The ability to plan flight is characteristic of some geckos, which have extended skin folds on the sides of the body and on the tail. Many lizards jump well, grabbing prey on the fly. Some desert species have adapted to "swimming" in the thickness of the sand, in which they spend most of their lives.

Most lizards are carnivores, feeding on all kinds of animals that they can grab and overpower. The main food of small and medium-sized species are insects, spiders, worms, molluscs and other invertebrates. Larger lizards eat small vertebrates - rodents, birds and their eggs, frogs, snakes, other lizards, as well as carrion. A smaller number of lizards are herbivorous. Their food consists of fruits, seeds and succulent parts of plants. However, even among herbivores, young individuals, as a rule, feed on insects at first and only later begin to feed on plants, losing their predatory instincts. Many lizards are equally willing to eat both plant and animal food.

Cannibalism is inherent in some species: adults pursue and eat young individuals of the same species.

Food specialization in lizards is relatively rare. So, marine iguanas feed mainly on one type of algae, other lizards eat almost exclusively ants or termites, often also only one species. South American caiman lizard(Dracaena guianensis) feeds on naked slugs and molluscs, the shells of which are easily crushed by specialized teeth.

The lizards slowly sneak up on the prey and then grab it in the final throw. As a rule, the prey is eaten whole, but may be preliminarily torn apart by the jaws. Like other reptiles, lizards are able to remain without food for a long time, consuming the nutrient reserves deposited in the fat bodies located in the body cavity. In many species, in particular in geckos, fat is also deposited in the tail, the size of which is greatly increased. Lizards drink water by licking it with their tongue or scooping it up with their lower jaw. Desert species are content with water in the body of the prey they eat, and in some of them it can accumulate in special sac-like formations located in the abdominal cavity.

At desert iguanas of the genus Sauromalus, on the sides of the body under the skin, there are special lymphatic sacs filled with a gelatinous fluid, which largely consists of water accumulated during rains and then slowly consumed during a period of prolonged drought.

In countries with a pronounced change of seasons, lizards start breeding in the spring soon after waking up from wintering. Males of many species acquire bright mating coloration by this time. In the tropics, with a year-round even and warm climate, many lizards breed throughout the year or with a short break during a severe drought or during the rainy season.

During the breeding season, sexually mature males are very excited, take specific demonstrative postures, combining them with certain signal movements characteristic of this species, allowing rivals to recognize each other from afar. Demonstrative poses are extremely varied and may consist of lifting on the hind or front legs, flattening or strongly squeezing the body, raising, twisting or lowering the tail, shaking and nodding the head, etc. Opponents usually quickly run up to each other, and then slowly, as usually sideways, approaching, demonstrating a flattened or laterally compressed body that therefore looks exorbitantly enlarged; at the same time, males often inflate their throats, protrude horny ridges, skin folds, etc.

A larger and stronger male pushes the weaker one, making false attacks, but without using his jaws, until he takes flight. However, bloodless "fights of intimidation" often turn into real fights, in which males bite frantically, hit with their tails or try to knock each other over on their backs. Often they use the horny outgrowths, spikes or horns on their heads as weapons (this is especially characteristic of chameleons). As a result, the defeated, often bleeding male leaves the battlefield, and the winner pursues him for some time, but then quickly calms down. In some cases, fights end in the death of one of the opponents, although this is extremely rare.

Many lizards are characterized by peculiar mating games, during which the male demonstrates a bright body color in front of the female, taking specific “courtship” postures, to which the female responds with certain signal body movements, consisting, for example, in swaying or trembling of raised front legs and wriggling of the tail.

In some species, for example, many iguanas and agamas, there are "harems" when several females live on the site of one male. The male vigilantly guards his "harem" or territory, immediately assuming threatening postures at the sight of suitable rivals. However, for protection, one kind of owner is often enough, sitting somewhere on a hill and from time to time defiantly making signal gestures, notifying potential rivals that the site is occupied. Males of some geckos, sitting in a shelter, periodically emit a signal call, and males of neighboring areas respond with a similar call.

When mating, male lizards hold the female with their jaws by the neck, by the sides of the body or at the base of the tail, and at first they grab her, as a rule, by the tail.

The vast majority of lizards lay eggs, the number of which in one clutch ranges from 1-2 in the smallest species to 8-20 in medium-sized and several dozen in large lizards.

Many small species, in particular geckos, lay eggs in small portions several times per season.

The shape and size of the eggs also vary. More often they are oval or elongated along the longitudinal axis, less often completely round, slightly pointed at the ends or curved in the form of a pod. In the smallest known lizards - some geckos and skinks - the laid eggs reach only 4-5 mm in diameter, while in large monitor lizards they are not inferior in size to a goose egg and weigh 150-200 g. The eggs are enclosed in a thin, moisture-permeable, colorless leathery a shell capable of stretching during the development of the embryo, which is why the size of recently laid eggs is always noticeably smaller than those that are supposed to hatch young. Only in geckos and some legless lizards the eggs are covered with a hard calcareous shell. Such eggs - soft when laid - quickly harden in the air, and then their size remains unchanged throughout the entire period of development.

The female lays eggs several times a season in portions of 2-4 eggs in different places or in one clutch. Usually she lays them in a hole or in a shallow hole, then sprinkling them with earth. Often, eggs are laid under stones, in cracks in rocks, in hollows or under the bark of trees, in wood dust, and by some geckos they stick to tree trunks and branches. Often several females lay their eggs in the same place, where they accumulate several tens or even hundreds.

A smaller number of lizards are ovoviviparous. Their eggs, devoid of a dense shell, develop inside the mother's body, and the cubs are born alive, freeing themselves from the thin film that dresses them while still in the oviducts or immediately after birth. Real live birth has been established only in some skinks and American night lizards xanthusia, the embryos of which are fed through a false placenta - blood vessels in the walls of the mother's oviducts. Live birth is usually associated with harsh living conditions, such as living in the far north or high in the mountains.

In most cases, having laid eggs, the female never returns to them, and the developing embryos are left to their own devices. Real care for offspring is observed only in some skinks and spindles, the females of which wrap themselves around the laid eggs, periodically turn them over, protect them from enemies, help the young to get rid of the shell and, staying with them for the first time after hatching, give them food and protect them in case of danger. Some skinks are even capable of distinguishing their own eggs from those of others by feeling them with their tongue, and in specially delivered experiments they were always unmistakably found and even transferred to their original place.

The duration of development of the embryo inside the egg is very different. In species that live in temperate climates, for example, in most lizards of our fauna, embryos develop 30-60 days and young ones are born in late summer or early autumn. In species living in the tropics, the duration of development often increases dramatically, reaching 8-9 months. Biologically, this is due to the fact that the time of the appearance of the young is timed here for the most favorable period of the year, for example, the end of the rainy season * Some species of lizards lay eggs with almost fully developed embryos, so that the young can hatch into the light in the next few days. By the time of hatching from the egg, the embryos develop a special egg tooth in the front corner of the mouth, with which, shaking its head, the young lizard, like a razor, cuts a slit in the egg shell to exit. Many geckos develop two of these teeth; in some cases, egg teeth are replaced by a dense horny tubercle.

Sexual maturity in some lizards occurs as early as the next year after birth, while in others in the 2nd-4th or even 5th year of life.

Recently, a phenomenon of so-called parthenogenesis has been discovered in a number of lizards, when females lay unfertilized eggs, in which, nevertheless, normal offspring develop. This phenomenon has been established in certain forms of the Caucasian rock lizard, North American teiid from the genus Chemidophorus and exists, perhaps, in some geckos and agamas. Males are absent during parthenogenesis, and such species are represented by only females.

Lizards have a lot of enemies. All kinds of birds eat lizards: herons, storks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, hawks, kestrels, kites, secretaries, owls, owls, crows, magpies and many others. No less terrible enemies of lizards are all kinds of snakes, many of which specialized in feeding exclusively on lizards. They eat lizards and mammals - badgers, polecats, foxes, viverras, mongooses, hedgehogs, etc. Finally, some large lizards, such as monitor lizards, eat smaller ones. When attacked by enemies, lizards in most cases flee or hide motionless, disguising themselves as the surrounding background. The latter is especially effective when attacking snakes, which, as a rule, only hunt for moving prey.

The only lizards that are poisonous and therefore dangerous to predators are the North American lizards (Heloderma) when in danger they do not hide or run away, but defiantly remain in place, trusting their bright warning color, consisting of combinations of pink, yellow and black. Often a lizard manages to escape from a predator, leaving a writhing discarded tail in its claws or mouth. In a number of species capable of autotomy, the tail is very brightly colored, which, perhaps, attracts the attention of a predator to it.

Many lizards have a so-called warning behavior that scares off the enemy. In many ways, it resembles the mating habits of excited males described above and can consist in standing up on its paws, waving its head with its mouth open to the limit, puffing up the body, sharp flapping of the tail, etc. All this is usually accompanied by a loud hiss or snort. So, in the Australian frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingi), simultaneously with the opening of the mouth, a very wide, hitherto invisible collar with bright colored spots unfolds, and in the eared round-headed lizard common in Central Asia, special folds with jagged edges protrude at the corners of the mouth, which look due to blood flow as a continuation of a huge mouth with bared fangs, for which it is easy to take two palatine folds protruding from above.

Sometimes lizards are capable of attacking the enemy themselves, and their bites are very sensitive, and in large species they are simply dangerous. Biting the enemy, they tightly clench their teeth, close their eyes and, having relaxed the body, hang in a state of a kind of trance. It is often easier to break an animal's jaw than to make it loosen its grip. Monitor lizards and some other species, defending themselves, can inflict painful blows with their tail. Different lizards, when attacked by enemies, take very peculiar poses of passive defense.

The lifespan of lizards varies greatly. In many relatively small species, it does not exceed 1-3 years, while large iguanas and monitor lizards live for 50-70 years or more. Some lizards have survived 20-30 or even 50 years in captivity.

Most lizards benefit by eating a significant amount of harmful insects and invertebrates. The meat of some large species is quite edible, which is why they are often the object of a special trade, and the skin of these reptiles is also used by humans. In a number of countries, the capture and extermination of some lizards is prohibited by law.

Currently, about 3500 species of various lizards are known, usually united in 20 families and almost 350 genera.

Canada part of the world has its own groups of lizards, which reach their peak here and are represented by the maximum number of species. So, for Europe, the family is characteristic real lizards- (Lacertilia, Sauria), suborder of reptiles. As a rule, small animals with well-developed limbs, the closest relatives of snakes. Together they form a separate evolutionary line of reptiles. The main distinguishing feature of its representatives ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Suborder of reptiles of the scaly order. Body length from a few centimeters to 3 m or more (Komodo lizard), covered with keratinized scales. Most have well developed limbs. More than 3900 species, on all continents (except Antarctica), ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

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