Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

323

Komodo dragon

The Komodo dragon is the

largest lizard—up to 10 ft (3 m)

long. It scavenges on dead animals

and also catches deer, pigs, and wild

boars. Komodo dragons are found only

on a few of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia.

gILa monSTer

only three lizards have a poisonous bite—the

gila monster, the mexican beaded lizard,

and the Komodo dragon. The gila

monster (right) is found in dry,

scrubby areas. It hides in a burrow

by day and emerges at night to eat

small animals such as mice, and the

eggs of birds and other reptiles.

Five claws

on feet

anoLe LIzard

anole lizards belong to the iguana family of

lizards. There are many different kinds,

found in tropical areas of Central and

South america. anole lizards are territorial

(they guard their territory). The males

inflate their red-colored throat sacs, which

they display to each other as a sign of

aggression. anole lizards are sometimes

called american chameleons.

green geCKo

many lizards are

colored to blend in

with their surroundings.

Treeclimbing lizards

such as this green gecko

are often bright green

to match the leaves;

desert-dwelling lizards

are sand-colored or brown.

many kinds of chameleons

can change their color

according to their surroundings.

After each dive,

Galapagos marine

iguanas sunbathe

on the rocks to

warm up again.

SLowworm

The slowworm is not really a worm, but a lizard. It is not slow

either; when disturbed, slowworms can wriggle away rapidly to

safety. Slowworms are found in fields and scrubland in

europe, northern africa, and southwestern asia. They feed

on slugs, spiders, and insects. Unlike most lizards,

slowworms give birth to fully formed young.

Male anole lizard

inflates its red

throat sac.

Gila monster feeding

on newborn mice.

Slowworms grow

to about 20 in

(50 cm) in length.

Komodo

dragon lizards

feasting on the carcass

(dead body) of a deer

IgUana

Like all lizards, iguanas depend on heat

from the environment to keep their

bodies warm and active. They spend much

of the day basking in the sun, absorbing its

warmth to prepare for activity. at night

they become slow and sluggish as their body

temperature falls. The galapagos marine

iguanas shown here dive to more than 35 ft

(11 m) deep into the sea in search of seaweed.

Thorny devIL

The extraordinary-looking thorny devil is also

called the moloch. Spines protect its body

from nose to tail. Thorny lizards live in dry

parts of australia, where they forage for ants.

when the young molochs hatch from their

eggs, they look like tiny,

spiny versions of

their parents.

Forked

tongue

TegU LIzard

The young tegu lizard shown left

is found in tropical areas of South

america. It feeds mostly on young

birds and mammals, and also eats

other lizards. Like most lizards,

the tegu has a tough, scaly skin,

a forked tongue, five claws on its

feet, and movable eyelids.

Find out more

Camouflage, animal

desert wildlife

reptiles

Snakes

lizards

US_323_Lizards_2.indd 323 09/02/16 3:57 pm