Toxicofera
Sign in to saveToxicofera (Latin for "toxin-bearers") is a clade of scaled reptiles (squamates) that includes the Serpentes (snakes), Anguimorpha (monitor lizards, beaded lizards, 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.
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Cladistics
- Venom
- Criticism
- References
- External links
Toxicofera (Latin for "toxin-bearers") is a clade of scaled reptiles (squamates) that includes the Serpentes (snakes), Anguimorpha (monitor lizards, beaded lizards, 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.
== Cladistics == Toxicofera combines the following groups from traditional classification: Suborder Serpentes (snakes) Suborder Iguania (iguanas, agamid lizards, chameleons, etc.) Suborder Anguimorpha, consisting of: Family Varanidae (monitor lizards) Family Lanthanotidae (earless monitor lizard) Family Anguidae (alligator lizards, glass lizards, etc.) Family Helodermatidae (Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard) Family Shinisauridae (Chinese crocodile lizard) Family Xenosauridae (knob-scaled lizards)