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Lizards are members of the taxon Squamata. Like other squamates (i.e., amphisbaenians and snakes) lizards have elongated bodies, skin that sheds in large fragments, a pair of hemipenes (male copulatory organs), and other typical squamate features.
Lizards are the largest and most diverse group of reptiles. The diversity of the group is apparent from its variety of reproductive strategies, including egg-laying (oviparity), live birth (viviparity), and sex determined by genes or temperature. In terms of basic morphology, most lizards have claws and four limbs, and many are able to shed their tails (caudal autotomy) to evade a predator. The New World (North, Central, and South America) is home to some unique lizard groups including all teiids (whiptails, etc.), all helodermatids (i.e. the gila monster and beaded lizard), and most of the world's iguanids (iguanas, horned lizards, chuckwallas, etc.).
A male blue-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma cepediana) feeding on a Trochetia blackbumiana flower [Photo: Courtesy Dennis Hansen]
Did you know that reptiles pollinate plants? In fact, there are at least 37 known occurrences of different lizard species visiting flowers and/or providing pollination services.
Numerous species of lizards have been introduced into the United States - most of them in Florida. These animals come in as hitch hikers on cargo and imported plants. Others are released pets that manage to thrive.
Description:A flattened, wide-bodied lizard. The skin is mostly brown, yellowish, tan, reddish, or grey, with dark lines radiating from each eye, and dark, brown splotches on its neck, back, and tail.
Habitat:Desert, grassland/herbaceous, shrubland/chaparral. The lizards occur in dry, open habitats with sparse vegetation.
Distribution:South-central United States and northern Mexico.
Status:Widespread and common in some areas, but faces some threats such as fire ants, insecticides, loss of habitat, and overcollecting.