Lizards are small, cold-blooded animals that have eyelids and a long tail. These reptiles usually have four legs (a group of lizards called amphisbaenas have no legs). There are about 2,500 different species of lizards. Only two of these species are poisonous (including the beaded lizard and the Gila Monster; the Komodo Dragon has a disease-ridden bite that infects and kills its prey).

A sampling of lizards:

Basilisk A South American lizard that can walk on water.

Blue-tongued Skink An Australian lizard with a long, blue tongue.

Frilled Lizard A lizard with a huge neck frill.

Gecko Geckos are the only lizards that make noise.

Gila Monster A venomous lizard from deserts of southwestern North America.

Green Iguana Plant-eating lizards from moist habitats.

Iguana Iguanas are plant-eating lizards.

Komodo Dragon The biggest lizard in the world and a fierce predator.

Lizards There are 2,500 types of lizards.

Veiled Chameleon A chameleon with a helmet-like casque on its head.

A cladogram of reptilia

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