Green Nature

Lizard Pictures

With the exception of the legless lizards, lizards often get generically described as the four legged members of the Order Squamatareptile, which includes both snakes and lizards.

Like all reptiles, lizards are cold blooded. They can often be seen, and photographed basking in the sun, their primary means for regulating body temperature. Because they are cold blooded, most species that live in northern climates also hibernate during the cold winter season.

With the exception of Alaska, lizards are native to every state in the United States. Most lizards in the United States call the Desert Southwest, east through Texas, home. Florida also has a large number of lizard species, however many of them are non-native species.

Skinks, geckos, spiny lizards, iguanas and anoles are among the most common lizards found in the United States.

The links in the box on the left point to a representative sample of lizards, arranged according to different families.

The listed native lizard species weigh heavily to spiny lizards, members of the Sceloporus genus: Clark's; Desert; Rosebelly; and Western Fence lizard. Four Whiptail species (genus Cnemidophorus and Aspidoscelis), are also presented.

The remaining native lizard species, Chuckwalla, Gila Monster, Green Anole and Tree Lizard, are representative of a single genera or family.

© 2007-2009 Patricia A. Michaels