Gerrhosauridae
| Gerrhosauridae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Broadleysaurus major | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Clade: | Cordyliformes |
| Family: | Gerrhosauridae Fitzinger, 1843 |
The Gerrhosauridae are a family of lizards native to Africa and Madagascar. They are close relatives of skinks and were once classified in the same family as them.[1]
Habitat
[edit]Also known as plated lizards, species in the family Gerrhosauridae live in a range of habitats, from rocky crevices to sand dunes.[1]
Description
[edit]Their form is variable, some species having four fully developed limbs, and others having vestigial hind limbs only.[1]
Reproduction
[edit]Most species are believed to be oviparous.[1]
Classification
[edit]Family Gerrhosauridae
- Subfamily Gerrhosaurinae
- Genus Broadleysaurus - rough-scaled plated lizard (1 species)
- Genus Cordylosaurus - blue-black plated lizard (1 species)
- Genus Gerrhosaurus - (7 species)
- Genus Matobosaurus - (2 species)
- Genus Tetradactylus - (8 species)
- Subfamily Zonosaurinae
- Genus Tracheloptychus - keeled plated lizards (2 species)
- Genus Zonosaurus - zonosaurs (17 species)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Bauer AM [in French] (1998). Cogger HG, Zweifel RG (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 161–162. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
Further reading
[edit]- Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. Lacertidæ, Gerrhosauridæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Family "Gerrhosauridæ", pp. 119–120).
- Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Family Gerrhosauridae, pp. 176–177).
- Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. ("Gerrhosauri", new family, p. 21). (in Latin).