Lizard Classification, Families of Lizards and Lizard Identification. Identifying different types of lizards is easy, because most have a strong family resemblance! Most lizard families contain various groups of lizards tied together by anatomical similarities, Many common lizard species are often simply referred to as Agamas, Chameleons, Geckos, Iguanas, Monitors, Skinks, Tegus and a few others. ![]() The lizard in the picture above is easily recognized as a Chameleon. Only Chameleon's have those crazy bulging eyes that swivel around in all directions, and those curious feet. Lizard classification is part of a natural classifying system used by taxonomists. This classification system was devised by Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus in the late eighteenth century. He is credited for the beginnings of this system as a way of arranging plants and animals into groups based on differences and similarities between them. Linnaeus is often called the 'Father of Taxonomy'. The system currently used by taxonomists is called the Linnaean taxonomic system, in his honor. The Linnaean classification system has a hierarchy of seven main taxonomic ranks, defined by the international nomenclature codes. These ranks are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. This system is very dynamic. The groupings, and the principles behind the groupings, have significantly changed since their conception and continue to change and expand, as more information is being assimilated. In this guide, the lizard classification section outlines the main taxonomic ranks, from the kingdom down to the lizard families. There are currently about 2. Each of these sections has a list of all types of lizards that may be found for pets, as well as many other species. Cool Pets! Reptiles Report Broken Video. Reptiles make very cool pets! Pick your favorite snake, lizard, or turtle and start an exciting adventure into the Animal World of Reptiles! Many are quite small, so need very little space and are easy to feed. Expert turtle and tortoise care and information. When was the last time you went herping? Reptiles are animals that are ectothermic (cold- blooded) vertebrates that breathe air. Most reptiles are oviparous (egg- laying) animals with the exception of some ovoviviparous (live- bearing) constrictor snakes and vipers, as well as a few lizard species. They are also tetropods, vertebrate animals that have four limbs or are descended from animals with four limbs. Deciphering the lizard classification system can at first seem like a daunting task. To the non- scientific mind lizard taxonomy is like a maze constructed of a bunch of unfamiliar, latin based terms that lead this way and that. But its the lizard itself, whose physical, anatomical features solve the mystery of the maze. ![]() Answering a simple question about the lizard at each juncture, from the kingdom down, leads through all the twists and turns to the lizard's family. And finally within the lizard families, you can find the individual species, which is your lizard. To follow the lizard classification hierarchy, the predominant taxonomic ranks are highlighted. It starts with the largest number of animals in the top rank, the kingdom, and then moves sequentially down to smaller and smaller subsets. These include the subkingdom, phylum, superclass, class, subclass, order, suborder, and family. Notes are included about new classification expansions and inclusions of additional ranks where appropriate. The additional ranks are inset. Kingdom: Animalia or Metazoa. Subkingdom Eumetazoa. ![]() ![]() EDIACARAN FAUNA Ediacaran fauna is the animal life that lived during the Vendian or Ediacaran period (roughly 650 to 544 million years ago). The Ediacaran period was. Discover with me some of the least known lizard facts for kids such as lizards diet, habitat, distribution, and behavior. Lizards (Lacertilla) are the most diverse. Western Bearded Dragon (Pogona minor minor) Species Background. There are a number of vivariums that can be used. Albalophosaurus One of the few dinosaurs ever to be discovered in Japan. Albertaceratops The most basal "centrosaurine" yet identified. Albertadromeus This petite. The kingdom contains two subkingdoms (the other being Subkingdom Parazoa Porifera). The kingdom is then divided into Superphylums, the Superphylum containing the lizards is. Superphylum: Deuterostomia. Phylum: Chordata. The phylum Chordata contains three subphyla, with Subphylum Vertebrata containing the lizards and the other two being; : Subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) and Subphylum Cephalochordata (Acraniata) . Subphylum: Vertebrata (Craniata)These are vertebrates, animals with backbones, with approximately 5. Note: In traditional classification, the path would then move directly from here to the Class Reptilia (reptiles). But as the study of animals has evolved, there are additional developments in refining classifications at this point, particularly for reptiles and amphibians. Under the Subphylum Vertebrata, reptiles can then be placed in the following Infraphylum. ![]() ![]() Infraphylum: Gnathostomata This infraphylum is defined as vertebrates with jaws. Superclass: Tetrapoda. Tetrapoda means four- limbed vertebrates, this rank currently contains about 2. Class: Reptilia (reptiles) Class Reptilia contains over 8,2. Note: As tetrapods, in newer classifications, they are associated with the clade Amniota. These are animals that have a terrestrially adapted egg and includes mammals, reptiles, and birds. Birds and mammals are distinguished with the subclades, Mammalia and Aves respectively, but reptiles are not so distinguished. Reptiles are sort of just out there. Lacking feathers and fur, it could just be said they are 'non- avian, non- mammalian amniotes'. Note: As reptilia, in newer classifications they are associated with the clade Eureptilia (. This is one of the two major clades of the Sauropsida (. This group contains most of the reptiles, including lizards, snakes, crocodilians, dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Order: Squamata. The Squamata order contains the scaled reptiles, animals distinguished by their skin being covered with horny scales or shields. There are currently about 7,9. ![]() ![]() ![]() Here we are using the current ITIS taxonomical hierarchy where the Squamata order has five suborders. It is structured with four suborders that contain lizards, and a fifth that contains snakes (Suborder Serpentes) so won't be covered here. We also expanded this to include the Suborder Sauria containing the unique Burrowing Lizards and Burrowing Slow Worms. Then later the Lacertilia suborder itself contained the four generally recognized suborders; Iguania, Gekkota, Amphisbaenia, and Autarchoglossa. Note: In newer classifications the name Sauria is a clade that is used for reptiles and birds in general, and the Squamata are divided differently. But more recently it has been discovered that a couple other groups are now known to have venomous lizards. Note: Part of this re- classification is due to the discovery that more lizards are venomous than were previously thought. It had long been thought that only the Gila Monsters and the Beaded lizards, in the Family Helodermatidae, were venomous lizards. One group contains the monitor lizards of the Family Varanidae, like the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis. The other contains lizards in the Suborder Iguania from the Family Agamidae, like the Bearded Dragon, and from the Family Iguanidae, like the Green Iguana. Much of the re- classification is being scrutinized and adjusted, so at this time we are primarily using the ITIS taxonomical hierarchy, with two exceptions. One exception is to Includes the Suborder Sauria with the unique Burrowing Lizards and Burrowing Slow Worms. The other exception, we will keep the earlier subfamily structure under Family Iguanidae, rather than making each of these subfamilies into families as ITIS does. The structure of these being families vs. The Iguania suborder is definitely one of the largest groups of lizards, consisting of 3 families and over 1. This group also contains a number of the best known pet lizards, including the Iguanas and Anoles as well as Chameleons and Agamids. Many of the species are considered . These are found from southern Canada in North America to the tip of South America and on the islands of Fiji and Madagascar. This group traditionally includes earless, spiny, tree, side- blotched and horned lizards. There are 1. 36 species in 1. Subfamily: Polychrotinae. Anoles and kin, contains about 3. Subfamily: Tropidurinae. Tropidurid lizards or neotropical ground lizards, contains more than 1. Suborder: Sauria. Sauria contains unique burrowing lizards and burrowing slowworms. Geckos are found worldwide in all the warmer regions. The family Gekkonidae consists of 5 subfamilies, numerous genera, and at least 8. What distinguishes Geckos as a family is that they have the ability to produce sounds. Some make high pitched calls, some sound like ducks, and others like barking dogs. Most geckos have fused eyelids (like snakes) and they lick them with their protrusible notched tongue to clean them. The rest have round pupils. They all have flattened bodies, short necks and wide flat heads. The digits of their feet (kind of like toes) are adhesive because they have rows of tiny hooked bristles which allow them to climb straight up walls and across ceilings. Geckos are generally hardy and fairly easy to maintain in captivity. Many will also breed easily in captivity. List of Gecko types: Family: Aeluroscalabotidae. Cat Gecko - Aeluroscalabotes felinus. Family: Diplodactylidae. Helmeted Gecko - Diplodactylus galeatus. Fine- faced Gecko - Diplodactylus pulcher. Box- patterned Gecko - Diplodactylus steindachneri. Pale- snouted Ground Gecko - Diplodactylus stenodactylus. Tesselated Gecko - Diplodactylus tessellatus. Eastern Stone Gecko - Diplodactylus vittatus. Family: Eublepharidae . They have serpentine- like bodies with no front legs and the back legs are nothing more that flaps. They have fused eyelids and an extensible notched tongue. Their diet consists of small lizards and invertebrates. They have well developed limbs and short tongues that are barely protrusible. Most have long tails, crests, and dewlaps. Males are bright and varied in coloring. Most lay eggs in the ground but there are a few who are live bearers. The desert and forest dwellers are mainly herbivores while the smaller members are insectivores or omnivores. It had long been thought that the Gila Monsters and the Beaded lizards, in the Family Helodermatidae, were the only venomous lizards. But more recently it has been discovered that a couple other groups of lizards also contain venomous lizards including some in the Family Iguanidae, like the Green Iguana.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2017
Categories |