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Liolaemidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Liolaemidae
male Liolaemus tenuis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Liolaemidae
Frost & Etheridge, 1989
Synonyms

Liolaeminae (but see text)

Liolaemidae are a family of iguanian lizards.[1] They were traditionally included in the family Iguanidae as subfamily Liolaeminae, which some more recent authors prefer to delimit in a more restricted way. This family is only found within South America with the widest range being in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Paraguay[2]. A common name for this group is liolaemids. Liolaemidae are typically herbivores that have a diet high in fruit. Because of this special diet, Liolaemidae have a larger small intestine when compared to other similar omnivorous and insectivorous lizards.[3] Liolaemidae also have evolved both herbivory and omnivory independently more times than any other lizard group[2]

The genera placed here are:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Uetz, P.; et al. (eds.). "Liolaemidae". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b Pinchiera-Donoso, Daniel; Scolaro, Jose Alejandro; Sura, Piotr (2008). A monographic catalogue on the systematics and phylogeny of the South American iguanian lizard family Liolaemidae (Squamata, Iguania). Magnolia Press. pp. 4–6, 7.
  3. ^ O'Grady, Shannon P. (2005). "Correlating diet and digestive tract specialization: Examples from the lizard family Liolaemidae". Zoology. 108 (3). Urban & Fischer: 201–210. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2005.06.002. PMID 16351968.