Lizards are small reptiles of the order Squamata, which they share with the snakes (Ophidians). Lizards are cold-blooded reptiles that have long tails and four legs.
There are about 2,700 species of lizard on our planet, with only two species being poisonous, the Beaded lizard and the Gila Monster, (pictured left), both from Mexico.
However, recent research has revealed that in fact many lizards in the iguanians and monitor (lizard) families have venom-producing glands. None of these pose much danger to humans, as their poison is introduced slowly by chewing, rather than injected as with venomous snakes.
Lizards have external ear openings and movable eyelids which make them very versatile creatures. Species range in adult length from a few centimetres (some Caribbean geckos) to nearly three metres (Komodo dragons). Lizards exist in varies sizes, colors and shapes.
Lizards have a slimy appearance, but they are actually dry. Some lizards such as the Glass Lizard (pictured left) have no functional arms and like many lizards, their tails will break off as a defence mechanism.
While the predator eats the lizards tail, the lizard escapes and its tail will eventually re-grow. Many lizards are also capable of the regeneration of lost limbs meaning that if the lizard loses a limb through conflict with a predator, it will grow back just like their tails.
Many species of lizard change color in response to environmental changes or stress. One of the most well known lizards of this feature is the Chameleon Lizard. These lizards have special cells that lie in layers underneath their transparent skins. The layers contain color pigments that influence the color of the Chameleon.
Another lizard species capable of color change are the Anoles, a family of lizards closely related to iguanas. Anoles also change color in response to surroundings and mood. There are about 300 species of Anoles and they all have different coloring and color transitions. Anoles are small and common lizards that can be found throughout the southeastern United States, the Caribbean and various other regions of the Western world. A large majority of them sport a green coloration, including the only species native to North America, the aptly named Green anole.
The green anole can change its color from a bright, leafy green to a dull brown color, while the Cuban brown species can only change its shade of brown, along with the patterns on its back.
Lizard Habitats
Lizards live all over our planet except the polar regions as it is too cold for them to survive. Most live in trees such as the frilled lizard. Some live on the ground. Only a few live in the water like the great marine iguana. Lizards, like most reptiles have to regulate their own body temperature and will bask in the sun to warm up and move to a shade to cool down.
Lizard Diet
Lizards typically feed on insects, birds or rodents. A few species are omnivorous or herbivorous. One familiar example of a herbivorous lizard is the iguana, which is unable to properly digest animal protein. Most lizards eat insects (they are insectivores).
Lizard Reproduction
Most lizards lay eggs, though a few species are capable of live birth such as the Slow Worm, a legless lizard that resembles a small snake. Slow Worms reproduce from eggs which the female incubates within her body. The incubation period is about 90 to 100 days. In smaller egg laying lizards, female lizards around lay 8 – 12 soft-shelled eggs in a clutch (a set of eggs laid at one time).
Some lizards such as the Komodo Dragon digs a hole in the ground and lays 20 – 40 eggs. It then covers them up with dirt. The eggs hatch in about 7 months. Hatchlings eat mostly insects and live in trees.
Chameleons lay white, oval, tough-skinned eggs, which are buried in warm sand until they hatch.
Lizards As Pets
Species of lizards sold as pets include iguanas, bearded dragon, leopard geckos, tegus and monitor lizards. In general, lizards require more maintenance than other exotic pets. Their faeces are usually more offensive, requiring frequent cage cleanings. Finding a veterinarian whose practice includes lizards is also important.
Many lizards, like bearded dragons, are omnivores. This means that they eat foods from plants, like fruits and vegetables, and they also eat insects and small animals. Smaller lizards tend to stick with insects, but larger ones also eat small mammals.
Terrarium - A long-tailed lizard needs a 20-gallon (75 liters) terrarium, preferably one that is tall rather than wide. Screened Lid - Their terrarium needs a tightly secured screened lid. Substrate - Line their habitat with 2-3' of a reptile-safe substrate. UVB light - These pets require a 12-hour day and night cycle.
Lizards live from 3 to about 50 years, depending on many things, where they are, how they live, and the environment around them, abundance of food, and if they can keep away from predators, easy for big lizards but not as easy for the little ones!
Some lizards are carnivores (eat only animal products), some are herbivores (eat only vegetable and fruit) and some are omnivores (eat both meat and vegetables plus fruit). It is impossible to generalize what lizards eat, as different lizard species require different diets to be healthy.
Offer a variety of foods such as insects (eg, meal worms, snails, slugs, worms), clover, dandelion, mulberry leaves, milk thistle, watercress, chopped fruits and vegetables (such as bananas, apple, pawpaw, pears, green beans, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, parsley and tomato).
Lizards will sleep almost anywhere they feel safe and comfortable. Smaller lizards tend to hide in cracks and crevices where they can't be reached by predators, while large lizards with few predators, like monitors and Komodo dragons, will sleep in more open areas.
Lizards can be found in every continent except Antarctica, and they live in all habitats except extremely cold areas and deep oceans. Most lizards live on the ground, but others can be found making their home in a tree, in a burrow, or in the water.
No. There's plenty of mythological snakes that live for 500 years or more but real live snakes don't have that kind of lifespan. The oldest living snake in captivity known to man lived to be 40 years old.
The tuatara, a lizard-like reptile native to New Zealand, can live well over 100 years. Henry, a tuatara at the Southland Museum in New Zealand, mated for the first time at the estimated age of 111 years in 2009 with an 80-year-old female and fathered 11 baby tuatara.
And these turtles have lifespans that perfectly match their 500- to 1,000-pound weights: giant tortoises in captivity have been known to live longer than 200 years, and there's every reason to believe that testudines in the wild regularly hit the 300-year mark.
The lifespan of a Lizard depends on the species of Lizards. Geckos survive for about 10-15 years in a typical home, the Chameleons are known to survive for around 5-7 years, the Iguanas survive for about 20 years, and the Komodo Dragons, the biggest of the reptiles, live for an average of 40 years.
While some animals have developed ways of extracting water from the food they eat, or reducing water lost through evaporation, desert dwelling lizards don't drink water at all; they absorb it through their skin. Scientists have always suspected that lizards absorb water much like their amphibious neighbors.
And like spiders, lizards are helpful in controlling the population of other pests as they eat mosquitoes, flies, winged termites, ants, and bugs. Even though they do not cause any physical harm to humans, they are a nuisance.
Reptiles typically consume 1-4% of their bodyweight in food per day. Depending on the size of your pet reptile, they may fall into the lower or higher range. Larger animals will fall into the lower range and smaller or juvenile animals will fall into the higher end of the range.
The common house lizard is naturally insectivorous, insects are one of their favourite things to eat. They often eat spiders, snails, caterpillars, and all kinds of insect that they find crawling about.
Many lizards eat the same creatures. The most common live food to give to lizards like bearded dragons and crested geckos is crickets. Crickets are able to be purchased in bulk and kept for a period of time, or they can be purchased in small quantities and administered only when it's feeding time.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
