Lizards are one of the creepiest crawlers around. The moment you see one on your wall or in your garden, you shudder with disgust. If this is your reaction to a small creature measuring only a few centimeters, I wonder what would be your expressions when you will come to know that there are a few lizards in the world that can measure to few meters. There are different kinds of lizards that exist in different parts of the world. Let us have a look at some of them.
1- Varanus Komodoensis
Commonly known as Komodo dragon, it can be as long as ten feet. It is the largest carnivorous lizard but is on the verge of extinction. The major portion of their diet includes rotten carrion that injects enough bacteria in the lizard’s saliva that they weaken their prey in a single bite. Some of them even possess venom. At times, they can swallow a whole corpse.
2- Phrynosoma
The lizard is also named as horned toad, reason being their bodies are covered with spines and horns. They are generally found in sandy desserts and their diet generally comprises of ants. They are known for their defense mechanism. When they feel a threat, they develop blood pressure in their brains which causes the blood vessels near the eyes to ooze out blood streams that tastes like acid.
3- Phrynocephalus
The phrynocephalus lizard is also found in desserts are known for some unique behavior traits. Commonly called Toadhead Agama, they communicate among themselves with their tales. They curl and uncurl it to pass on the message. They also vibrate their bodies at lightening fast speeds to bury themselves in the sand.
4- Brookesia Minima
This is one lizard that almost every one of us has seen at least once in our lives. They are called chameleons and are generally known for their ability to camouflage. However, hardly any of us know that they have a huge tongue like their long tails and their eyeballs can move independent of each other. The Brookesia minima are the leaf chameleon and is one of the smallest lizards known till date.
5- Bipes Biporus
It is generally called the Baja Worm Lizard or The Mexican Mole Lizard. It is amphisbaenian and neither categorizes as a lizard nor as a snake. Their diet comprises of worms and ants and they spend a majority part of their life underground. They lack limbs and eyes.
6- Moloch Horridus
These lizards are also found in sandy deserts and live on ants. With a thorny body they may sound similar to horned toads but actually bears no connection with them. The thorns on their body acts as a protective covering because of which makes them difficult to swallow.
7- Flying Gecko
These gecko lizards are known for their ability to cling on any surface even glasses due to the presence of microscopic branches in their toes skin. As far as the flying part is concerned, some of them have flaps that enable them to wander from one tree to another.
8- Heloderma Suspectum
Commonly called as the Gila monster, they were once known for their poisonous bits. However, other lizards also possess venom in little amounts but this one is the most toxic amongst all.
9- Amblyrhynchus Cristatus
These lizards are found along the shore lines. They are dependent on sea for their living and their diet comprises exclusively of green algae. They use their blunt teeth to pull them off.
10- Hydrosaurus Pustulatus
Found in Philippine, the lizard’s diet comprises of fruits and other small insects. They are known for their ability to run on water due to the presence of flat toes.
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