LEGION OF LIZARDS

Legion of Lizards, acrylic on canvas, 2022. 30" X 24"

Lizards are the largest group of reptiles, numbering more than 3700 species. They are most common in tropical zones across the world except the far north and Antarctica.

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis, center bottom) is the world's largest lizard and is native to several small islands in Indonesia, including the island of Komodo where it got its name. It is a carnivore that hunts large herbivorous mammals such as wild pigs and deer, where it uses its primary weapon, a bite which employs toxic proteins, to subdue its prey. Growing up to 3 meters long and weighing more than 150 kg, the Komodo dragon is the national animal of Indonesia.

Juvenile Komodo dragons (one below the adult in the painting, another hiding in a hole on the tree) are greenish with yellow and black bands but become solid gray to reddish-brown as they age. Young dragons will sometimes hide in trees until they are about eight months old to avoid predators, which include larger dragons.

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis, top) has feet specifically arranged to provide a strong grip on branches, with three toes wrapped around one side and two on the other. It also has a prehensile tail which wraps around the branch and acts as an extra limb. It changes its color to match the background by altering its special skin cells called chromatophores. It also has a long, sticky tongue which it uses to catch insects. 

The common water monitor (Varanus salvator, Malay: Biawak Air, right) is a type of monitor lizard widespread throughout southern and southeast Asia. It is the world's second-heaviest lizard, after the Komodo dragon. It has a muscular body with a long and powerful tail. The scales in this species are keeled; scales found on top of the head have been noted to be larger than those located on the back. Water monitors are often defined by their dark brown or blackish coloration with yellow spots found on their underside which disappear gradually with age, along with a dark band with yellow edges extending back from each eye. The water monitor has a very long neck and an elongated snout with powerful jaws and serrated teeth.

The common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus, top of tree) is a nocturnal lizard living in southern and southeast Asia. It is usually seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to lights, and can be immediately identified by the characteristic chirping noise it makes. Like many geckos, this species can break off its tail when attacked. In Southeast Asia, geckos are believed to be carriers of good omen. In the painting, the gecko is seen chasing a jumping spider.

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius, bottom of tree) is a ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The leopard gecko has become a popular pet, and due to extensive captive breeding it is sometimes referred to as one of the first domesticated species of lizards. Leopard geckos range in color from yellow to brownish-orange with dark spots covering all or mostly half of the dorsal region of the body. Like chameleons, their color is derived from pigment-containing cells known as chromatophores.

The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is one of the most popular species of iguana, and probably the largest species in the iguana family. It is herbivorous and ranged from southern Brazil to as far north as Mexico, though it is commonly popular as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors. It spends most of its time on the trees and is often found near water. While it may often live in trees, it is also an excellent burrower.

The common flying dragon (Draco volans) is a member of the agamid family of lizards. Found in the thick rainforests of Southeast Asia, it is known for its ability to glide across trees by extending wing-like flaps of skin called patagia on each side of its body which, when viewed from the top, make a circular shape.  

The Australian frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii, center) is a species of agamid lizard that is named for the large frill on its neck. It spends most of its life on the trees and is omnivorous, feeding on insects, small vertebrates and occasionally plants. When the lizard is threatened, it opens its characteristic, brightly-colored frill on its neck which is supported by long spines of cartilage connected to its jaw bone. This display is used by the lizard for territorial display, to deter predators and during courtship.

The bearded dragon (Pogona, top left) is a type of agamid lizard named for the underside of its throat which is covered in a "beard" of rough scales. When threatened, bearded dragons will puff up their bodies and beards to ward off predators. Bearded dragons are found throughout much of Australia and inhabit a wide range of environments, such as deserts, shrublands and eucalyptus tree-filled woodlands. Their diet consists primarily of insects, plants, and occasionally small rodents. The central bearded dragon is the most common species in captivity, as well as one of the most popular pet reptiles, where various color morphs are seen.

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum, bottom right) is on of the few species of lizards with a poisonous bite, being related to monitor lizards. It lives in southwestern North America and parts of northern Mexico. It feeds mainly on small reptiles, small mammals, birds and eggs, so their venom is probably more for defense than for killing prey. It has a thick tail used to store body fat in times when food is scarce.

The horned lizard (Phrynosoma, bottom right) is a type of desert-dwelling lizard with a flattened, rounded body and blunt snout. The spines on the lizard's back and sides are modified reptile scales, which prevent water loss through the skin, whereas the horns on the head are true horns, hence the name. Of the 21 species of horned lizards, 15 are native to the United States. 70% of their diet consists of ants. At least eight species of horned lizard are also able to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of the eyes for a distance up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). They do this by restricting the blood flow leaving the head, thereby increasing blood pressure and rupturing tiny vessels around the eyelids. The blood not only confuses predators, but also tastes foul to mammalian predators.

The thorny devil (Moloch horridus, left) is a spiky agamid lizard found in the central deserts of Australia. An intimidating array of spikes made of modified scales covers the entire upper side of the body of the lizard, which help to defend it from predators. The thorny devil also sports a spiny "false head" made of soft tissue on the back of its neck, which it displays to confuse predators by dipping its real head. The thorny devil's scales are ridged, enabling the animal to collect water and direct it to its mouth by simply touching it with any part of the body, usually the limbs.

The perentie (Varanus giganteus, behind the rock) is Australia's largest lizard species and the world's fourth largest lizard, after the related Komodo dragon, common water monitor and crocodile monitor (Varanus salvadorii). A shy lizard, the perentie generally avoids human contact and often retreats before it is seen. However like most monitors, perenties are highly active carnivores that feed on mostly reptiles, small mammals, and less commonly birds. They are fast sprinters, and can run using either all four legs or just their hind legs.

The giant sungazer (Smaug giganteus, on the rock) is the largest species of sungazer lizard, a family of lizards from sub-Saharan Africa. Its scientific name is based on Smaug the dragon from The Hobbit, due to its dragon-like appearance, while its common name sungazer refers to its distinctive thermoregulatory behavior of lifting the front parts of the body by extending its forelimbs, usually near the entrance of its burrow as if looking at the sun. They normally eat insects, but may also occasionally eat small vertebrates. The decline in sungazer lizard numbers is a result of habitat destruction, and illegal collecting for the pet and traditional medicine trades.

The shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa, in front of the rock) is a short-tailed, slow-moving species of blue-tongued skink native to Australia. It has a heavily-armored body and a short, wide, stumpy tail that resembles its head which may have been used to defend itself by confusing predators. Like the Gila monster, the tail also contains fat reserves. The shingleback skink is an omnivore; it eats snails and plants and spends much of its time browsing through vegetation for food.

The European slow worm (Anguis fragilis, left) may resemble a snake, but is actually a special type of lizard called a legless lizard. Slow worms have an elongated, snake-like body with a circular cross-section without limbs and reach a maximum length of up to 57.5 cm. Like most lizards, slow worms can break off their tail when it is pulled by predators, and will later regrow it. It eats worms, grubs, slugs and spiders. It is widely distributed in western Eurasia, mostly in Europe.

The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus, bottom right) may look like a lizard, but is in fact a rhynchocephalian, a type of reptile with an ancient lineage. A living fossil, there is only one species of tuatara alive today, and it is found only on a few offshore islands of New Zealand. Tuataras have a parietal "third eye" on their foreheads which may have aided the animals in controlling their body temperature. Their eggs take a long time to hatch - around 15 months - the longest of any reptile.

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus, left) is unique among lizards for its mostly aquatic lifestyle and its ability to feed underwater. They are only found in the Galapagos islands, where they live in colonies on rocky shores. Marine iguanas feed on algae that grow on the floor of shallow seas.

The plumed basilisk lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons, right) is a member of the iguana family from central America. It has powerful, muscular back legs and long, thin toes. It is one of the fastest-running lizards, reaching speeds of up to 10 kilometers per hour. The basilisk lizard runs with its long tail held out behind for balance, and it runs so fast that it could even move for short distances over water, where its long toes support the skin-like film on the surface. Male basilisks have a large, bony, helmet-like crest on its head and flaps of skin along the back and tail. In females, the crests are smaller.