Editing Lizard (section)

==Ecology==
[[File:Lizard namely Oriental Garden Lizard.jpg|thumb|right|Lizard in tree. Many species are tree-dwelling]]
[[File:Lizard of tharparkar.jpg|alt=A lizard from Thar desert|thumb|A lizard from [[Tharparkar|Thar]] desert]]

===Distribution and habitat===
Lizards are found worldwide, excluding the far north and Antarctica, and some islands. They can be found in elevations from sea level to {{convert|5000|m|abbr=on}}. They prefer warmer, tropical climates but are adaptable and can live in all but the most extreme environments. Lizards also exploit a number of habitats; most primarily live on the ground, but others may live in rocks, on trees, underground and even in water.<ref name = mc/> The marine iguana is adapted for life in the sea.<ref name=Firefly/>

===Diet===
[[File:Western Green Lizard.jpg|thumb|[[Western green lizard]] ambushes its [[grasshopper]] prey.]]

The majority of lizard species are [[predatory]] and the most common prey items are small, terrestrial invertebrates, particularly [[insect]]s.<ref name=Firefly/><ref name="Pianka-Vitt41"/> Many species are [[sit-and-wait predators]] though others may be more active foragers.<ref>Pianka and Vitt, pp. 53–55.</ref> Chameleons prey on numerous insect species, such as [[beetle]]s, [[grasshopper]]s and winged [[termites]] as well as [[spider]]s. They rely on persistence and ambush to capture these prey. An individual perches on a branch and stays perfectly still, with only its eyes moving. When an insect lands, the chameleon focuses its eyes on the target and slowly moves toward it before projecting its long sticky tongue which, when hauled back, brings the attached prey with it. Geckos feed on [[Cricket (insect)|cricket]]s, beetles, termites and [[moth]]s.<ref name=Firefly/><ref name="Pianka-Vitt41"/>

Termites are an important part of the diets of some species of Autarchoglossa, since, as [[social insect]]s, they can be found in large numbers in one spot. [[Ant]]s may form a prominent part of the diet of some lizards, particularly among the lacertas.<ref name=Firefly/><ref name="Pianka-Vitt41"/> [[Horned lizard]]s are also well known for specializing on ants. Due to their small size and indigestible [[chitin]], ants must be consumed in large amounts, and ant-eating lizards have larger stomachs than even [[herbivorous]] ones.<ref>Pianka and Vitt, pp. 162.</ref> Species of skink and [[alligator lizard]]s eat [[snail]]s and their power jaws and molar-like teeth are adapted for breaking the shells.<ref name=Firefly>{{cite book |author1=Bauer, A. M. |author2=Kluge, A. G. |author3=Schuett, G. |year=2002 |contribution=Lizards |title=The Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians |editor=Halliday, T. |editor2=Adler, K. |publisher=Firefly Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse_p6l7/page/139 139–169] |isbn=978-1-55297-613-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse_p6l7/page/139 }}</ref><ref name="Pianka-Vitt41"/>

[[File:Komodo Dragon Eating Rinca.jpg|thumb|left|Young Komodo dragon feeding on a [[water buffalo]] carcass]]
[[File:Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), Galápagos Islands, Ecuador - foraging under water (5755672016).jpg|thumb|right|Marine iguana foraging under water at Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.]]
Larger species, such as monitor lizards, can feed on larger prey including fish, frogs, birds, mammals and other reptiles. Prey may be swallowed whole and torn into smaller pieces. Both bird and reptile eggs may also be consumed as well. Gila monsters and beaded lizards climb trees to reach both the eggs and young of birds. Despite being venomous, these species rely on their strong jaws to kill prey. Mammalian prey typically consists of [[rodent]]s and [[Leporidae|leporids]]; the Komodo dragon can kill prey as large as [[water buffalo]]. Dragons are prolific [[scavenger]]s, and a single decaying carcass can attract several from {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} away. A {{convert|50|kg|abbr=on}} dragon is capable of consuming a {{convert|31|kg|abbr=on}} carcass in 17 minutes.<ref name="Pianka-Vitt41">Pianka and Vitt, pp. 41–51.</ref>

Around 2 percent of lizard species, including many iguanids, are herbivores. Adults of these species eat plant parts like flowers, leaves, stems and fruit, while juveniles eat more insects. Plant parts can be hard to digest, and, as they get closer to adulthood, juvenile iguanas eat faeces from adults to acquire the [[intestinal flora|microflora]] necessary for their transition to a plant-based diet. Perhaps the most herbivorous species is the marine iguana which dives {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}} to forage for [[alga]]e, [[kelp]] and other marine plants. Some non-herbivorous species supplement their insect diet with fruit, which is easily digested.<ref name=Firefly/><ref name="Pianka-Vitt41"/>

===Antipredator adaptations===
[[File:Frilled-lizard500.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The [[Chlamydosaurus|frilled-neck lizard]] with fully extended frill. The frilled neck serves to make it look bigger than it actually is.]]
{{main|Antipredator adaptation}}
Lizards have a variety of [[antipredator adaptation]]s, including running and climbing, [[venom]], [[camouflage]], tail [[autotomy]], and [[reflex bleeding]].

====Camouflage====
Lizards exploit a variety of different [[camouflage methods]]. Many lizards are [[disruptively patterned]]. In some species, such as [[Aegean wall lizard]]s, individuals vary in colour, and select rocks which best match their own colour to minimise the risk of being detected by predators.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Marshall, Kate |author2=Philpot, Kate E. |author3=Stevens, Martin |title=Microhabitat choice in island lizards enhances camouflage against avian predators |journal=Scientific Reports |date=25 January 2016 |volume=6 |page=19815 |doi=10.1038/srep19815|pmid=26804463 |pmc=4726299 |bibcode=2016NatSR...619815M }}</ref> The [[Moorish gecko]] is able to [[adaptive camouflage|change colour]] for camouflage: when a light-coloured gecko is placed on a dark surface, it darkens within an hour to match the environment.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Yong |first1=Ed |title=Lizard 'Sees' With Its Skin For Automatic Camouflage |url=http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/16/lizard-sees-with-its-skin-for-automatic-camouflage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719043136/http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/16/lizard-sees-with-its-skin-for-automatic-camouflage/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |magazine=National Geographic |date=16 July 2014}}</ref> The [[chameleon]]s in general use their ability to change their coloration for signalling rather than camouflage, but some species such as [[Smith's dwarf chameleon]] do use active colour change for camouflage purposes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stuart-Fox |first1=Devi |last2=Moussalli |first2=Adnan |last3=Whiting |first3=Martin J. |title=Predator-specific camouflage in chameleons |journal=Biology Letters |date=23 August 2008 |volume=4 |issue=4 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2008.0173 |pmid=18492645 |pages=326–329|pmc=2610148 }}</ref>
The [[flat-tail horned lizard]]'s body is coloured like its desert background, and is [[Camouflage#Eliminating shadow|flattened and fringed]] with white scales to minimise its shadow.<ref name="Sherbrooke">{{cite book | title=Introduction to horned lizards of North America | publisher=University of California Press | author=Sherbrooke, WC | year=2003 | pages=117–118 | isbn=978-0-520-22825-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXlLdu3956gC&pg=PA118}}</ref>{{Clear}}

====Autotomy====
<!--[[File:Lizard tail autotomy.JPG|thumb|Lizard tail [[autotomy]]]]-->
[[File:Severed skink tail.webm|thumb|A skink tail continuing to move after [[autotomy]]]]

Many lizards, including [[gecko]]s and [[skink]]s, are capable of shedding their tails ([[autotomy]]). The detached tail, sometimes brilliantly coloured, continues to writhe after detaching, distracting the predator's attention from the fleeing prey. Lizards partially [[regeneration (biology)|regenerate]] their tails over a period of weeks. Some 326 genes are involved in regenerating lizard tails.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-discover-how-lizards-regrow-tails-9681841.html Scientists discover how lizards regrow tails] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027042902/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-discover-how-lizards-regrow-tails-9681841.html |date=2017-10-27 }}, The Independent, August 20, 2014</ref> The fish-scale gecko ''[[Geckolepis megalepis ]]'' sheds patches of skin and scales if grabbed.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Scherz|first1=Mark D.|display-authors=etal|title=Off the scale: a new species of fish-scale gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Geckolepis) with exceptionally large scales|journal=PeerJ |date=2017 |volume=5 |pages=e2955 |pmid=28194313 |doi=10.7717/peerj.2955 |pmc=5299998 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

====Escape, playing dead, reflex bleeding====
Many lizards attempt to escape from danger by running to a place of safety;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cooper | first1=William E. Jr. |title=Initiation of Escape Behavior by the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) |journal=Herpetologica |date=2010 |volume=66 |issue=1 |pages=23–30 |doi=10.1655/08-075.1 |s2cid=84653226 }}</ref>{{efn|The BBC's 2016 ''Planet Earth II'' showed a sequence of newly-hatched [[marine iguana]]s running to the sea past a waiting crowd of [[Galapagos racer|racer snake]]s. It was edited for dramatic effect but the sections were all genuine.<ref>{{cite web |title=From Planet Earth II, a baby iguana is chased by snakes |url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161114-from-planet-earth-ii-a-baby-iguana-is-chased-by-snakes |publisher=BBC |date=15 November 2016 |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502200038/http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161114-from-planet-earth-ii-a-baby-iguana-is-chased-by-snakes |url-status=live }}</ref>}} for example, wall lizards can run up walls and hide in holes or cracks.<ref name=Spinner2014/> Horned lizards adopt differing defences for specific predators. They may [[thanatosis|play dead]] to deceive a predator that has caught them; attempt to outrun the [[rattlesnake]], which does not pursue prey; but stay still, relying on their cryptic coloration, for ''[[Masticophis]]'' whip snakes which can catch even swift prey. If caught, some species such as the [[greater short-horned lizard]] puff themselves up, making their bodies hard for a narrow-mouthed predator like a whip snake to swallow. Finally, horned lizards can [[autohaemorrhaging|squirt blood]] at [[Felidae|cat]] and [[Canidae|dog]] predators from a pouch beneath its eyes, to a distance of about {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=off|spell=in}}; the blood tastes foul to these attackers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hewitt |first1=Sarah |title=If it has to, a horned lizard can shoot blood from its eyes |url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151105-if-it-has-to-a-horned-lizard-can-shoot-blood-from-its-eyes |publisher=BBC |date=5 November 2015 |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502200020/http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151105-if-it-has-to-a-horned-lizard-can-shoot-blood-from-its-eyes |url-status=live }}</ref>