Different Types of Lizards


Reptiles are grouped into four different orders, the largest of which is the order Squamata. This order contains all the different types of snake. All the other members of this order are known as lizards. Lizards have incredible diversity among their group. The smallest is small enough to stand on the head of a match and the largest is big enough to kill a human. While most are quadrupedal, some do not have limbs at all. They can be found on every continent except for Antarctica, developing in a range of habitats. All are covered in scales which can be of various colors. Some, like the chameleon, can even change color. Learn more about the diversity of these reptiles as thedailyECO shares 15 different types of lizards with photos.
- Argentine black and white tegu
- Red tegu
- Gallot's lizard
- Sand lizard
- European green lizard
- Western green lizard
- Komodo dragon
- Asian water monitor
- Nile monitor
- Common gliding lizard
- Desert horned lizard
- Common collared lizard
- Ocellated lizard
- Mexican beaded lizard
- Ayala's anole
Argentine black and white tegu
While all types of lizard are squamous reptiles, there are many families which help to group them taxonomically. Tegus are types of lizard found in the families Teiidae and Gymnophthalmidae. The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) is a species native to central and northern Argentina. It lives in tropical rainforests, grassland savannas, wetlands, herbaceous steppes and even some coastal areas.
Its dorsal side is dark-gray-to-black in color with the presence of white transverse spots and rings on its tail. They are omnivores and excellent biological controllers of their ecosystem. They are also oviparous and lay a large number of eggs. They are active during the warm months and hibernate the rest of the year. They do so in caves that they either build themselves or take from other animals.

Red tegu
The red tegu (Tupinambis rufescens) also lives in Argentina, specifically in xerophilous environments. It is large, displaying a robust body, wide head and short limbs. Its color is reddish with dark and irregular transversal spots. It is a shy reptile and runs away quickly when faced with any threatening situation.
Both the Argentine black and white and the red tegu are commercially exploited for their leather. The hunting pressure they have suffered led to them being included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Gallot's lizard
Also known as the Western Canarias lizard, the Gallot's lizard Gallotia galloti) is native to the Canary islands of Tenerife and La Palma. It is a species of the Lacertidae family, commonly known as wall lizards. It presents sexual dimorphism with males being larger and displaying a blue spot on their face that intensifies during the reproductive season. Female Gallot's lizards lack this spot and have a cryptic coloration. Its diet is based on insects and plants.

Sand lizard
The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is distributed throughout much of Europe, as well as Central and Western Asia. It lives in plains and rugged regions and can be found on hillsides covered with bushes, as well as abandoned quarries, parks and gardens. Its color varies considerably depending on the time of year, with males usually being green and females predominantly being brown. While not endangered, certain populations are considered threatened.
Learn about another of the different types of lizards not mentioned in this list with our article sharing the different types of iguanas.

European green lizard
Belonging to the Lacertidae family, the European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) is distributed throughout Europe and Asia. It usually lives in environments with dense shrub vegetation, as well as open forests, field margins, embankments and thickets. Males are green with black spots on the back, while females are brighter green in color. In mid-spring both sexes acquire a bluish coloration on the jaws, although it is more distinct in males.

Western green lizard
Previously considered a subspecies of European green lizard (Lacerta viridis), the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) is of the same genus. It is a type of lizard native to forests, shrublands and grasslands of Europe that has been introduced to the United States. A strange fact is that its tail is longer than its body. They are fairly territorial animals that feed on large insects.

Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest of all the different types of lizards, weighing over 330 lb (150 kg). As with all other members of the genus Varanus they are a type of monitor lizard. Endemic to the islands of central Indonesia, they are capable of eating up to 80% of their weight in one sitting. They are apex predators in their ecosystems. Their predatory ability is aided by a very strong bite and salivary excretions which some researchers believe to be venomous, although there is much debate about this.
Their large appearance of Komodo dragons means they can easily be mistaken for a modern-day dinosaur. Learn more about these prehistoric animals with our article asking how many kinds of dinosaurs were there?

Asian water monitor
The water monitor (Varanus salvator) is the second largest lizard in the world after the Komodo dragon, also being a member of the same genus. Its population range covers much of Southeast Asia and occupies a wide variety of environments related to its semi-aquatic habits such as mangroves, swamps and even rice fields and canal systems.

Nile monitor
The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a species of monitor lizard which is also sometimes known as the African small-grain lizard. Their range covers almost the entire African continent, except its northwestern region. It is greyish brown in color and has greenish spots on its dorsal side. It has a muscular body and has strong jaws. It uses sharp claws to dig, hunt and even defend itself. It has become an invasive species in the US state of Florida.

Common gliding lizard
The common gliding lizard (Draco sumatranus) is a small species of dragon lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. A mainly arboreal animal, it has the incredible adaptation of being able to glide from tree to tree. This is thanks to flaps of skin connected to an extendable ribcage. Males have a colorful dewlap under their shin which they use to attract a female mate. They feed on small insects and their cryptic colors make them go unnoticed when they are on tree trunks.

Desert horned lizard
The desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is found in northern Mexico and the southern United States. Its body is covered with small spines and its head has a crown of horn-like structures. They live in deserts and their coloration is similar to that of their habitat, allowing for supreme camouflage. To further hide from predators and hunt their prey, they often cover themselves with sand, leaving only their head exposed for surveillance.

Common collared lizard
Known as the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), this is a type of lizard belonging to the Crotaphytidae family. It lives in xerophytic environments in the southern United States and northern Mexico. Its name is due to the two rings that surround its neck. This agile lizard is a fast runner and an excellent climber. Males are very colorful, with a blue-green body, yellow stripes on the tail and an orange-yellow back and throat. Females are light brown.
Discover other types of lizard known for their bright coloration with our article on the different types of chameleons.

Ocellated lizard
Also known as the jewelled lizard, the ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) is native to southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. It prefers areas with low vegetation cover, as this provides both open spaces exposed to the sun and shelters in which to hide. It has a characteristic green color and bluish spots on the back of its body. It is robust and has a wide head with strong limbs that have long and sharp claws.

Mexican beaded lizard
The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) is a venomous species of the Helodermatydae family that lives in the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala. It can be seen in medium or low deciduous forests, savannas and pine-oak forests. Its back is dark with yellow spots and its limbs have elongated claws. Its tongue is extendable and forked.

Ayala's anole
The Ayala's anole (Anolis calimae) is a species of terrestrial lizard of the Dactyloidae family which is endemic to Colombia. It is usually found on the in both primary and secondary forests in the western mountain range of this country. During the day it is usually in the upper part of the trees. It moves slowly and is small in stature. It is yellowish-green in color and has a short tail that looks prehensile.
Often confused with each other, we compare reptiles and amphibians in our article asking what is the difference between salamanders and geckos.

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- IUCN. (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
https://www.iucnredlist.org