These are vertebrates, animals with backbones, with approximately 58,000 species. The phylum Chordata contains three subphyla, with Subphylum Vertebrata containing the lizards and the other two being : Subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) and Subphylum Cephalochordata (Acraniata). The kingdom is then divided into Superphylums, the Superphylum containing the lizards is: The kingdom contains two subkingdoms (the other being Subkingdom Parazoa Porifera). Notes are included about new classification expansions and inclusions of additional ranks where appropriate. These include the subkingdom, phylum, superclass, class, subclass, order, suborder, and family.
![flame bellied armadillo lizard flame bellied armadillo lizard](https://www.backwaterreptiles.com/images/other/flame-belly-girdle-tail-lizard-for-sale.jpg)
It starts with the largest number of animals in the top rank, the kingdom, and then moves sequentially down to smaller and smaller subsets. To follow the lizard classification hierarchy, the predominant taxonomic ranks are highlighted. And finally within the lizard families, you can find the individual species, which is your lizard. Answering a simple question about the lizard at each juncture, from the kingdom down, leads through all the twists and turns to the lizard's family. But its the lizard itself, whose physical, anatomical features solve the mystery of the maze. To the non-scientific mind lizard taxonomy is like a maze constructed of a bunch of unfamiliar, latin based terms that lead this way and that. They are also tetropods, vertebrate animals that have four limbs or are descended from animals with four limbs.ĭeciphering the lizard classification system can at first seem like a daunting task. Most reptiles are oviparous (egg-laying) animals with the exception of some ovoviviparous (live-bearing) constrictor snakes and vipers, as well as a few lizard species.
![flame bellied armadillo lizard flame bellied armadillo lizard](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/c3/77/0dc3776b87a72f8c3a697b9d12dffa97.jpg)
Reptiles are animals that are ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates that breathe air. Lizards belong in a large class of animals called Reptilia, which contains over 8225 species. Reptile Care: Keeping Reptiles and Amphibians as Pets For information on keeping lizards as pets, see: Each of these sections has a list of all types of lizards that may be found for pets, as well as many other species. There are currently about 27 lizard families, based on traditional classification, described as well. In this guide, the lizard classification section outlines the main taxonomic ranks, from the kingdom down to the lizard families. The groupings, and the principles behind the groupings, have significantly changed since their conception and continue to change and expand, as more information is being assimilated. These ranks are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The Linnaean classification system has a hierarchy of seven main taxonomic ranks, defined by the international nomenclature codes. The system currently used by taxonomists is called the Linnaean taxonomic system, in his honor. Linnaeus is often called the 'Father of Taxonomy'. He is credited for the beginnings of this system as a way of arranging plants and animals into groups based on differences and similarities between them. This classification system was devised by Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus in the late eighteenth century. Lizard classification is part of a natural classifying system used by taxonomists. Only Chameleon's have those crazy bulging eyes that swivel around in all directions, and those curious feet. The lizard in the picture above is easily recognized as a Chameleon. Most lizard families contain various groups of lizards tied together by anatomical similarities, Many common lizard species are often simply referred to as Agamas, Chameleons, Geckos, Iguanas, Monitors, Skinks, Tegus and a few others. Pet lizards and lizard species in general are often described by their family, or a common name descriptive of their family. They are hand tamed and hand raised from birth. I prefer rehoming them together not as a pair.
![flame bellied armadillo lizard flame bellied armadillo lizard](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a2/f4/ca/a2f4ca22856bcd2530f1f6d1a70e87cc.jpg)
![flame bellied armadillo lizard flame bellied armadillo lizard](http://archies.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/lizard3-e1333317628997.jpg)