Difference between Lizard and Reptile

The living beings that inhabit this planet are very diverse, they differ both in appearance and in species, way of feeding, inhabiting and many other things. However, from time to time among all the species of animals that surround us, some attract us more attention than others; for example, there are a large number of people interested in lizards and reptiles.                       Difference between Lizard and Reptile

Surely right now you are also wondering what the difference is between reptile and lizard. If you still don’t know it or are just looking for a little more information to complement the knowledge you already have, then keep reading, because below we will explain everything you need to know about this interesting topic.

REPTILES                                                          Difference between Lizard and Reptile

Reptiles are members of the Class: Reptilia, under the Phylum: Chordata, of the Kingdom: Animalia. Modern reptiles are widely distributed on all continents except Antarctica. The class: Reptilia is further divided into sub-groups:

• Testudines (tortoises, tortoises and tortoises),
• Sphenodontia (New Zealand tuataras),
• Squamata (lizards, snakes, and lizards), and
• Crocodilia (crocodiles, gharials, alligators and alligators).

All reptiles have our limbs or are descendants of four-limbed ancestors, for example snakes. Reptiles live primarily on the ground, while some may also reside in trees. Most reproduce by laying eggs, however some may retain the eggs until hatching and others give birth to live young, such as mammals.

All reptiles are cold-blooded, which means they have trouble keeping their body temperature constant and often rely on external sources of heat, such as basking in the sun. Reptile skin is quite thin and is protected by scales or shields. These sometimes have a bony base that forms a shell.

Most modern reptiles are carnivores and survive mainly by eating insects, small and medium-sized mammals, and other reptiles. Some have evolved to survive totally or partially on plants, including various types of agamas and iguanas. Currently, turtles make up the only predominantly herbivorous group of reptiles.

Reptiles vary greatly in their size and weight. They range from a tiny gecko, which can grow up to 17 mm (0.7 in) to the saltwater crocodile, which can grow up to 6 m (19.7 ft) in length and weighs more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds).

LIZARDS

On the other hand, lizards are part of the Order: Squamata, of the class: Reptilia. Therefore, lizards are a type of reptile. They really make up the largest order in the reptile class. There are approximately 5,600 different species of lizards. Like all reptiles, lizards are available on every continent except Antarctica.

Most lizards, like almost all reptiles , are four-legged, cold-blooded, and carnivorous. In addition to the feet, they also have external ears, a characteristic not shared by all reptiles. Lizards also have a unique characteristic, called autotomy, that allows them to spread their tails to escape predators  . Vision, including color vision, is particularly well developed in most lizards. This is because many lizards communicate with body language or bright colors on their bodies.

Finally, lizards can range from a few centimeters like chameleons and geckos, to almost 3 m (9.8 ft) in the case of the Komodo dragon. The Komodo dragon is the largest living varanid lizard ever discovered. Apart from the Komodo dragon, some of the more commonly known lizards are: gecko, chameleon, iguanas, horned lizards. There are also the legless lizards, which look like snakes. These share a common ancestry with lizards.