The Crotaphytidae, or collared lizards, are a family[1][2][3] of desert-dwelling reptiles native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Alternatively they are recognized as a subfamily, Crotaphytinae, within the clade Pleurodonta. They are very fast-moving animals, with long limbs and tails; some species are capable of achieving bipedal running at top speed. This species is carnivorous, feeding mainly on insects and smaller lizards. The two genera contain 12 species.
Crotaphytidae | |
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Crotaphytus collaris | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Clade: | Pleurodonta |
Family: | Crotaphytidae H.M. Smith & Brodie, 1982 |
Genera | |
They may be related to the extinct Arretosauridae of Paleogene Asia due to similar jaw morphologies, though other studies classify the Arretosauridae in Acrodonta with other Old World iguanians.[4][5]
Image | Genus | Living species |
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Gambelia Baird, 1859[6][7] (leopard lizards) |
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Crotaphytus Holbrook, 1842[6][8] (collared lizards) |
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Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in different genus.