Lacertidae
Sign in to savethumb|Troodos lizardPhoenicolacerta troodica thumb|Terminology and scalation of lacertids The Lacertidae are the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at about 360 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group of reptiles found in Europe.
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The Lacertidae are a large family of lizards native to Africa, Europe, and Asia, containing about 360 species that are commonly known as wall lizards or true lizards. They are particularly important because they represent the dominant group of reptiles found in Europe, making them key animals for understanding European ecosystems.
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Article
7 sectionsContents
- Habitat
- Description
- Evolutionary history
- Classification
- Extinct genera
- References
- External links
thumb|Troodos lizardPhoenicolacerta troodica thumb|Terminology and scalation of lacertids The Lacertidae are the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at about 360 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group of reptiles found in Europe.
==Habitat== The European and Mediterranean species of lacertids live mainly in forest and scrub habitats. Eremias and Ophisops species replace these in the grassland and desert habitats of Asia. African species usually live in rocky, arid areas. Holaspis species are among the few arboreal lacertids, and its two species, Holaspis guentheri and Holaspis laevis, are gliders (although apparently poor ones), using their broad tail and flattened body as an aerofoil.