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Anguimorph
The Anguimorpha is a suborder of squamates. The group was named by Fürbringer in 1900 to include all autarchoglossans closer to '' Varanus'' and ''Anguis'' than ''Scincus''. These lizards, along with iguanians and snakes, constitute the proposed "venom clade" Toxicofera of all venomous reptiles. Evolution The oldest widely accepted member of Anguimorpha is ''Dorsetisaurus'' from the Late Jurassic of Europe and North America. In 2022, the genus ''Cryptovaranoides'' was described from the latest Triassic (Rhaetian) of England. ''Cryptovaranoides'' was recovered in the study as a crown-group Anguimorph, and therefore the oldest crown group-squamate, 35 million years older than any previously known crown-group squamate. Families Anguidae There are 9 genera found within the Anguidae family. They are characterized by being heavily armored with non-overlapping scales, and almost all having well-developed ventrolateral folds (excluding ''Anguis''). Anguidae members can, however ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Squamates
Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, it is also the second-largest order of extant (living) vertebrates, after the perciform fish. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields, and must periodically engage in molting. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making possible movement of the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able to open their mouths very wide to accommodate comparatively large prey. Squamata is the most variably sized order of reptiles, ranging from the dwarf gecko (''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'') to the Reticulated python (''Malayopython reticulatus'') and the now-extinct mosasaurs, which reached lengths over . Among other reptiles, squamates are most closely ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Squamata
Squamata (, Latin ''squamatus'', 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. With over 10,900 species, it is also the second-largest order of extant (living) vertebrates, after the perciform fish. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields, and must periodically engage in molting. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making possible movement of the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able to open their mouths very wide to accommodate comparatively large prey. Squamata is the most variably sized order of reptiles, ranging from the dwarf gecko (''Sphaerodactylus ariasae'') to the Reticulated python (''Malayopython reticulatus'') and the now-extinct mosasaurs, which reached lengths over . Among other reptiles, squamates are most close ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paleoanguimorpha
Paleoanguimorpha is a clade of anguimorphs comprising Shinisauria (represented today by shinisaurids) and Goannasauria (represented today by Varanoidea which includes the families Lanthanotidae and Varanidae). Morphological studies in the past also classified helodermatids and pythonomorphs with the varanoids in the clade Platynota, while the Chinese crocodile lizard was classified as a xenosaurid. Current molecular work finds no support in these groupings and instead has found the helodermatids more related to Diploglossa in the sister clade Neoanguimorpha, while the Chinese crocodile lizard is the closet living relative to varanoids. Pythonomorphs represented by snakes today are not closely related to varanoids and are instead a sister lineage to Anguimorpha and Iguania in the clade Toxicofera. Below is the phylogeny of the paleoanguimorph lineages after Pyron ''et al.'' (2013): See also *Neoanguimorpha *Platynota Platynota is a polyphyletic group of anguimorph lizar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toxicofera
Toxicofera (Greek for "those who bear toxins") is a proposed clade of scaled reptiles (squamates) that includes the Serpentes (snakes), Anguimorpha (monitor lizards, gila monster, and alligator lizards) and Iguania (iguanas, agamas, and chameleons). Toxicofera contains about 4,600 species, (nearly 60%) of extant Squamata. It encompasses all venomous reptile species, as well as numerous related non-venomous species. There is little morphological evidence to support this grouping, however it has been recovered by all molecular analyses as of 2012. The oldest known toxicoferan is ''Cryptovaranoides'', an anguimorph from the Late Triassic of England. Cladistics Toxicofera combines the following groups from traditional classification: * Suborder Serpentes (snakes) * Suborder Iguania (iguanas, agamid lizards, chameleons, etc.) * Infraorder Anguimorpha, consisting of: ** Family Varanidae (monitor lizards) ** Family Anguidae ( alligator lizards, glass lizards, etc.) ** Family Helo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lanthanotidae
The earless monitor lizard (''Lanthanotus borneensis'') is a semiaquatic, brown lizard native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is the only living species in the family Lanthanotidae and it is related to the true monitor lizards. Taxonomy The earless monitor lizard was described in 1878 by Franz Steindachner. The genus name ''Lanthanotus'' means "hidden ear" and the species name ''borneensis'' refers to its home island of Borneo. The uniqueness of the species was recognized from the start and Steindachner placed it in its own family, Lanthanotidae. In 1899 George Albert Boulenger relegated it to the family Helodermatidae, together with the beaded lizards and gila monster. Further studies were conducted in the 1950s where it was found that although it is related to Helodermatidae, this relationship is relatively distant. The similarity is in part the result of convergent evolution and they should be recognized as separate families. Both are part of a broader Anguimorph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earless Monitor Lizard
The earless monitor lizard (''Lanthanotus borneensis'') is a semiaquatic, brown lizard native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is the only living species in the family Lanthanotidae and it is related to the true monitor lizards. Taxonomy The earless monitor lizard was described in 1878 by Franz Steindachner. The genus name ''Lanthanotus'' means "hidden ear" and the species name ''borneensis'' refers to its home island of Borneo. The uniqueness of the species was recognized from the start and Steindachner placed it in its own family, Lanthanotidae. In 1899 George Albert Boulenger relegated it to the family Helodermatidae, together with the beaded lizards and gila monster. Further studies were conducted in the 1950s where it was found that although it is related to Helodermatidae, this relationship is relatively distant. The similarity is in part the result of convergent evolution and they should be recognized as separate families. Both are part of a broader Anguimorph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neoanguimorpha
Neoanguimorpha is a clade of anguimorphs comprising Monstersauria (represented today by helodermatids) and Diploglossa (Xenosauridae and Anguioidea). Morphological studies in the past had classified helodermatids with the varanoids in the clade Platynota, while the Chinese crocodile lizard was classified as a xenosaurid. However molecular work found no support in these groupings and instead has found the helodermatids more related to Diploglossa, while the Chinese crocodile lizard and varanoids to form the clade Paleoanguimorpha. Below is the phylogeny of the neoanguimorph lineages after Pyron ''et al.'' (2013): See also *Paleoanguimorpha Paleoanguimorpha is a clade of anguimorphs comprising Shinisauria (represented today by shinisaurids) and Goannasauria (represented today by Varanoidea which includes the families Lanthanotidae and Varanidae). Morphological studies in the past ... References Anguimorpha {{lizard-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dorsetisaurus
''Dorsetisaurus'' is a genus of extinct lizard, known from the Late Jurassic of North America, and the Late Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous of Europe. The genus was first reported from the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) Lulworth Formation of the Purbeck Group of Durlston Bay, in Dorset. It has also been reported from the Late Jurassic aged Alcobaça Formation of Portugal and Morrison Formation of Western North AmericaFoster, J. (2007). "Table 2.1: Fossil Vertebrates of the Morrison Formation." ''Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World''. Indiana University Press. pp. 58-59. present in stratigraphic zones 2, 4, and 5.Foster, J. (2007). "''Enneabatrachus hechti''" ''Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World''. Indiana University Press. p. 137. It is considered the oldest widely accepted member of Anguimorpha. based on the presence of 11 shared synapomorphies. See also * Paleobiota of the Morrison Formation The Morrison Fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cryptovaranoides
''Cryptovaranoides'' ("hidden lizard-like animal") is an extinct genus of lizard from the Late Triassic of England. It contains a single species, ''Cryptovaranoides microlanius''. It is represented by a holotype partial skeleton as well as referred isolated bones from Rhaetian-aged fissure fill-deposits in Cromhall Quarry, near Tortworth, Gloucestershire preserved alongside the common fossil rhynchocephalian ''Clevosaurus''. The type specimen had been collected in 1953, but was only described as a distinct taxon in 2022. Several traits such as braincase, neck vertebrae, skull architecture, and teeth arrangement support ''Cryptovaranoides''' classification as a squamate. ''Cryptovaranoides'' marks the earliest known occurrence of a crown group squamate, with previous fossils known only as early as the Middle Jurassic; the discovery of ''Cryptovaranoides'' pushes back the estimated origin of modern squamates by 35 million years. A phylogenetic analysis placed ''Cryptovaranoides'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xenosauridae
Xenosauridae is a family of anguimorph lizards whose only living representative is the genus '' Xenosaurus'', which is native to Central America. Xenosauridae also includes the extinct genera '' Exostinus'' and '' Restes''. Also known as knob-scaled lizards, they have rounded, bumpy scales and osteoderms. Most living species prefer humid, rocky habitats, although they are widespread within their native regions, with some inhabiting semi-arid scrub environments. They are carnivorous or insectivorous, and give birth to live young. '' Shinisaurus'', the Chinese crocodile lizard, was once also regarded as a member of Xenosauridae, but most recent studies of the evolutionary relationships of anguimorphs consider ''Shinisaurus'' to be more closely related to monitor lizards and helodermatids than to ''Xenosaurus''. Xenosauridae is part of a larger clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, compose ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanidae
The Varanidae are a family of lizards in the superfamily Varanoidea within the Anguimorpha group. The family, a group of carnivorous and frugivorous lizards, includes the living genus '' Varanus'' and a number of extinct genera more closely related to ''Varanus'' than to the earless monitor lizard (''Lanthanotus''). ''Varanus'' includes the Komodo dragon (the largest living lizard), crocodile monitor, savannah monitor, the goannas of Australia and Southeast Asia, and various other species with a similarly distinctive appearance. Their closest living relatives are the earless monitor lizard and chinese crocodile lizard. The oldest members of the family are known from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. Taxonomy The Varanidae were defined (using morphological characteristics) by Estes, de Queiroz and Gauthier (1988) as the clade containing the most recent common ancestor of ''Lanthanotus'' and ''Varanus'' and all of its descendants. A similar definition was formulated by Conrad ''et al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diploglossidae
Diploglossidae is a family of anguimorph lizards native to the Americas, with most genera being endemic to Hispaniola. Most members of this family (aside from the legless genus '' Ophiodes'') are known as galliwasps. They were formerly considered a subfamily of Anguidae, but genetic evidence has shown them to be less closely related to other members of Anguidae than Anniellidae is. Taxonomy Phylogenetic evidence supports an early Cenozoic origin for the family. Species were previously only classified into 3 genera ('' Celestus'', '' Diploglossus'', and '' Ophiodes''), but a 2021 study found these genera to be paraphyletic, and thus further split them into more genera, classified within 3 different subfamilies (the celestines, diploglossines, and siderolamprines). The siderolamprines and a single celestine radiated throughout most of Central America, the diploglossines radiated throughout South America, and both the celestines and diploglossines radiated throughout the Caribbean ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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