Group Names - Who is in them Flashcards
Sphenodontidae
tuatera
Corytophanidae
Iguania. Have well-developed head crests. Slender, long-limbed, long-tailed
Iguanidae
Iguania. Moderate to large sized lizards - occupy a variety of niches
Phrynosomatidae
Iguania. Small, spiny lizards with flattened bodies and short tails
Agamidae
Iguania. No autonomy planes. All are diurnal. Tongue is broad and can be notched or unnotched
Chameleonidae
Iguania. Many possess casques, horns, and crests on their heads. Their feet are zygodactylous, forming opposable grasping surfaces. Tail is prehensile. Eyes can move independently of one another
Gekkonidae
Gekkota. All are relatively small. Temporal and postorbital arches are absent and the palate is toothless
Pygopodidae
Gekkota. Flap-footed lizards. Tails are very long. Both temporal and postorbital arches are absent. Forelimbs are absent and only a flap of skin, containing four digits, remains of the hindlimb
Teiidae
Lacertoidea. Most are larger in size. Upper temporal arch is present and the palate is usually toothless. Osteoderms are absent
Lacertidae
Lacertoidea. typical lizards
Amphisbaenia
Lacertoidea. Entirely limbless. Pectoral and pelvic girdles are variably reduced or absent. Frontal bone completely encases the brain. Skull modified for burrowing. Right lung is reduced
Xantusiidae
Scincoidea. Normal limb proportions. Upper temporal fossa is closed
Scincidae
Scincoidea. most are characterized by smooth, shiny, cycloid scales that are underlain by osteoderms. Elongation of body and smaller limbs is likely noticable.
Anguidae
Anguimorpha. Limb reduction and loss occurs often.
Varanidae
Anguimorpha. Largest lizards are within this group. Active, fast-moving predators
Helodermatidae
Anguimorpha. Gila monsters. Somewhat stout lizards with short, blunt tails. The only venomous lizards.
Typhlopidae
Serpentes. Blind or worm snakes
Boidae
Serpentes. Includes the largest extant snakes. Retains vestiges of the pelvic girdle
Viperidae
Serpentes. Have solenoglyphous fangs. Includes rattle snakes
Elapidae
Serpentes. Proteroglyphous fangs. All are venomous
Colubridae
Serpentes. All other snakes. Some exhibit aglyphous fangs. No vestiges of the hind limb
Pleurodires
fold their necks sideways to tuck into shell
Cryptodires
exhibit an S-shaped bend when moving their head into their shell
Testudinidae
Cryptodira. terrestrial tortoises. Substantial emargination and premaxillae meet to form a hook-shape