Teiidae
Encyclopedia
Teiidae is a family of lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...

s native to the Americas, generally known as whiptails. The group includes the parthenogenic genera Cnemidophorus
Cnemidophorus
Cnemidophorus is a genus of lizards which belong to the family of Teiidae, which are commonly referred to as whiptail lizards or racerunners. Note that the nomenclature for this genus has recently been re-examined by T. W. Reeder et al. in 2002...

and Aspidoscelis
Aspidoscelis
Aspidoscelis is a genus of whiptail lizards, from the family Teiidae. The nomenclature for this genus has recently been published by T. W. Reeder et al. in 2002...

, and the non-parthenogenic Tupinambis
Tupinambis
Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family Teiidae, and contains seven described species. These large, South American lizards are commonly referred to as tegus; Tupinambis merianae , Tupinambis rufescens , and Tupinambis teguixin are all common in...

. It has over 230 member species in ten genera. About 75% of the species are in two dominant genera, Aspidoscelis and Cnemidophorus.

Morphology

Teiids can be distinguished from other lizards by the following characteristics: they have large rectangular scales that form distinct transverse rows ventrally and generally small granular scales
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...

 dorsally, they have head scales that are separate from the skull bones, and the teiid teeth are solid at the base and "glued" to the jaw bones. Additionally, all teiids have a forked, snake-like tongue. They all possess well-developed limbs.

Teiids are all terrestrial and diurnal, and are primarily carnivorous or insectivorous, although some will include a small amount of plant matter in their diet. They all lay eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...

, with some species laying very large clutch
Clutch (eggs)
A clutch of eggs refers to all the eggs produced by birds or reptiles, often at a single time, particularly those laid in a nest.In birds, destruction of a clutch by predators, , results in double-clutching...

es.

Parthenogenesis

Certain species of whiptail lizards have all-female or nearly all-female populations. These lizards reproduce by parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...

, and research has shown that simulated mating behavior increases fertility. For instance, one female lies on top of another, engaging in pseudocopulation. When they lay eggs, the lizard that was on bottom has larger eggs while the one on top has smaller. The lizards switch off this role each mating season. The offspring are genetic clones of the mother, sparking debate as to how these lizards evolve
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...

 or adapt to the environment.

Genera

Family: Teiidae
  • Genus Ameiva
    Ameiva
    Ameiva, commonly called jungle-runners, is a genus of whiptail lizards that belongs to the family of Teiidae. Member species are found in South America and throughout various islands of the Caribbean.-Species:...

    - Jungle-runners (about 30 species)
  • Genus Aspidoscelis
    Aspidoscelis
    Aspidoscelis is a genus of whiptail lizards, from the family Teiidae. The nomenclature for this genus has recently been published by T. W. Reeder et al. in 2002...

    (about 120 species)
  • Genus Callopistes
    Callopistes
    Callopistes is a lizard genus which belongs to the family of Teiidae. They are native to Ecuador, Peru and Chile.-Classification:Genus Callopistes*Callopistes flavipunctatus*Callopistes maculatus...

    - False monitors (2 species)
  • Genus Cnemidophorus
    Cnemidophorus
    Cnemidophorus is a genus of lizards which belong to the family of Teiidae, which are commonly referred to as whiptail lizards or racerunners. Note that the nomenclature for this genus has recently been re-examined by T. W. Reeder et al. in 2002...

    - Whiptail lizards (about 60 species)
  • Genus Crocodilurus
    Crocodilurus
    Crocodilurus is a lizard genus that belongs to the family Teiidae.It is at present monotypic, with only a single described species Crocodilurus amazonicus, the Crocodile Tegu....

    - Crocodile Tegu (1 species)
  • Genus Dicrodon
    Dicrodon
    Dicrodon is a lizard genus in the family Teiidae. Known as desert tegus, there are three described species. Desert tegus are found in South America, specifically in Peru and Ecuador.-Classification:Genus Dicrodon...

    - Desert tegus (3 species)
  • Genus Dracaena
    Dracaena (lizard)
    The genus Dracaena , also called Caiman Lizards, belongs to the family of Teiidae lizards. Caiman lizards are found in South America in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. These lizards spend a lot of time in the water and they inhabit marshes, streams and flooded forests...

    - Caiman lizards (2 species)
  • Genus Kentropyx
    Kentropyx
    Kentropyx is a whiptail lizard genus which belongs to the family . There are nine species in this genus.-Selected species:*Kentropyx altamazonica *Kentropyx borckiana*Kentropyx calcarata Spix, 1825...

    - (9 species)
  • Genus Teius
    Teius
    Teius is a genus of lizards that belong to the family Teiidae.-Classification:Genus Teius*Teius oculatus*Teius suquiensis*Teius teyou...

    - (3 species)
  • Genus Tupinambis
    Tupinambis
    Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family Teiidae, and contains seven described species. These large, South American lizards are commonly referred to as tegus; Tupinambis merianae , Tupinambis rufescens , and Tupinambis teguixin are all common in...

    - Tegus (7 species)
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