Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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322

Lizards 322-

THE LARGEST GROUP of reptiles is the lizard family, with about 5,500

species. Lizards live in almost every habitat except the open sea and the

far north. The huge Komodo dragon is the largest, and tiny geckos are the

smallest—some are less than 1 in (2 cm) long. A typical lizard such as

the iguana has a slim body, a long tail, legs that splay out sideways,

and five-toed feet. There are many variations, however; skinks

are often extremely long, with short legs. They move

effortlessly through sandy soil with a wriggling motion.

Glass lizards are even more snakelike, most have no

legs and only a few species have small, stubby hind

legs. Several other kinds of lizards, including the

slowworm, have also lost their limbs during the

course of evolution. Like other reptiles, most

female lizards lay eggs, which they bury in

the soil or hide under rocks until

the young hatch.

Green iguana

Outstretched claws help

in gripping while climbing.

Typical scaly skin like

other reptiles, such as

snakes and crocodiles

ASiAn wATER dRAGOn

This lizard is found in Asia and lives mainly in trees

that grow close to water. Like most lizards, the water

dragon is able to swim. Unlike most other lizards,

however, which move on all four legs, the Asian

water dragon runs on two legs if it is threatened,

which gives it more speed on land.

Long tail

for balance

LizARd TAiLS

in the same way that a starfish regrows

its arms, a lizard can regrow its tail.

when a predator such as a bird or cat

grabs a lizard by its tail, the lizard sheds

the tail in order to escape. The

vertebrae (backbones) along the

tail have cracks in them, so the

tail breaks off easily. The

broken-off part of the tail

often twitches for a few

minutes, confusing the

enemy while the lizard

runs away. The tail

grows back to its

original length in

about eight months.

Tree skink has

lost the end

of its tail.

The more the frilled

lizard opens its

mouth, the more

the frill expands.

Loose skin

around neck

looks like a

huge collar.

Tail waves

around to

frighten

enemy.

FRiLLEd LizARd

The Australian frilled

lizard has a flap of loose

skin around its neck that

folds flat along the body.

The lizard raises the frill to

make itself look bigger in order

to scare away a predator. it also waves

its tail and head around to alarm its

enemy, and then scuttles away.

TOKAy

GEcKO

The pads on

the feet of the

tokay gecko are covered with about one

million microscopic hairlike structures

that help the gecko grip on to surfaces. in

southeast Asia, where it lives, it can be seen

walking up glass surfaces and across ceilings.

Tokay gecko

Lizards can hear

through their ear

openings.

Tail has regrown

fully within a

few months.

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