Fun facts: All about lizards

Closely related to snakes, lizards are cold-blooded reptiles. They have dry, scaly skin, and those with feet have clawed toes. There are more than 4,600 known species, including iguanas, chameleons, geckos, Gila monsters, monitors, and skinks. Salamanders may look like lizards, but they are amphibians, more closely related to frogs and toads.

Lizards are found on every continent except Antarctica. Most lizards live on the ground and enjoy basking in warm sunshine. Some have adapted to living in trees, caves, underground burrows or in water. Lizards that make their homes in regions with cold seasons hibernate during the winter to survive. Those that live in the desert use sand and underground retreats to shade themselves from intense sun and heat. Tree dwellers have developed special toes, and some have prehensile tails.

The Australian frilled lizard is a large, harmless lizard. It can grow to more than 3 feet (90cm) long. Its tail makes up about two-thirds of that length. These reptiles use camouflage for protection. The black-bearded gliding lizard is found in rainforests. This lizard eats small insects, such as ants and termites. Flying lizards only go to the forest floor to lay eggs.

Also known as flying dragons, they live in South and South-east Asia. Most lizards have eyelids, and many have excellent colour vision. Baby lizards hatch fully formed and are self reliant, requiring no help from the mother to survive.

There are about 60 species of dwarf geckos. Discovered in 2001, the Jaragua Sphaero of South America is the smallest reptile on Earth. It is less than 0.75 inches (2cm) long. Flying lizards have been seen gliding distances of 196 feet (60m) between trees without losing significant altitude.

The Gila monster (pronounced hee-la) is shy and slow, but very venomous. It lives primarily underground and is the largest lizard found in the US. Not all lizards have legs. The glass lizard is found in southeastern North America. It has no legs, but unlike snakes, it has moveable eyelids. It grows up to 41 inches long (105cm).

Not all lizards have legs. The glass lizard is found in southeastern North America. It has no legs, but unlike snakes, it has moveable eyelids. It grows up to 41 inches long (105cm). There are about 60 species of dwarf geckos. Discovered in 2001, the Jaragua Sphaero of South America is the smallest reptile on Earth. It is less than 0.75 inches (2cm) long.
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