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Lizards are reptiles with more than 5,600 species.
These creatures can be found across almost all continents and are
characterized by their overall lapping scales—the defining feature of
suborder Lacertilia. Lizards typically have feet and external ears, as
well as movable quadrate bones like snakes. One of the most interesting
about lizards is their ability to detach their tails to escape their
predators. They also communicate through body language and pheromones,
which refer to the bright colors on their bodies. Generally, these
creatures have one-of-a-kind personalities and great camouflage
techniques. They are known to give people creeps, but they can also be
among the most interesting creatures in the world because of their
diverse physical characteristics and behaviors. Here is a list of the 10
weirdest lizards in the world:
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More commonly known as the toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus Arabicus is
a lizard from the Agamidae family or the chisel-teeth lizards. They are
primarily characterized by their compressed, fused teeth that are
attached to their upper jaw. They are weird because most pictures of
lizards commonly have loosely attached teeth. These lizards also have
the excellent ability to change their body color that is why they are
dubbed as the chameleons of the Old World. They also have a wide,
strong, and flattened body that is covered in rough skin, as well as a
tail that is flat though rounded at the base to one another by curling
and uncurling their tails, vibrate their bodies to bury themselves
quickly in sand and will frighten away predators with a set of
bizarre-looking, colorful mouth flaps, seen here.
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Brookesia Minima or minute leaf chameleon
is considered as the smallest species of stump-tailed chameleons. These
lizards facts are characterized by their cylindrical and
lichen-like-striped bodies, often camouflaged in different shades
including brown, grey, and green. They are weird because they have tiny
and relatively flat heads, as well as downward pointing and short
snouts. Their scales are also small and spiny compared to other lizards,
and they run along each side of the backbone. Male Brookesia Minima can
measure up to 28 mm, shorter by 5mm compared to their female
counterparts.
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More commonly known as horned lizards,
Phrynosoma is a unique genus of lizards characterized by their
specialized morphological, behavioral, and ecological adaptations. Among
their defining characteristics are their dorso-ventrally flattened
bodies, exceptionally large stomachs and the sharp spines around their
occipital regions. What also set them apart from other species of
lizards are their variable body temperatures and apparent reluctance to
run when they are approached by large animals. Their diet mostly
consists of large ants and beetles. These lizards can also stay active
over a longer period of time compared to other lizards.
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Also called Thorny Devil, Moloch Horridus is a species of lizard
characterized by its body that has conical spines all over. Even the
areas above each of its eyes and hump behind its head are also filled
with spines and thorns. The spines of this lizard are what make it easy
to identify, as well as its color that ranges from reddish brown to
black. Though it appears creepy because of its spines, this lizard is
harmless. Another characteristic of this reptile is that it lifts its
tail when it walks, and it walks in a shaky way.
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What sets Hydrosaurus Pustulatus apart from other lizards is its body
size that can reach up to a meter in length. Also known as sail-fin
lizard, this reptile has a rather spectacular appearance because of its
well-developed crest and the tooth-like scales from its nape down to its
back. Its most defining feature is the erect ‘sail’ of skin on its tail
that reach up to eight centimeters high, making it an excellent swimmer.
Unlike other lizards, these lizards also have flattened toes which allow
them to easily swim through the water. This is one of the rarest facts
about lizards with this kind of specie.
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Amblyrhynchuscristatus is a species of marine iguanas dwelling in the
islands of Galapagos. They are weird not mainly because of their
physical attributes but because of their lifestyle. These lizards boast
of a lifestyle that no other reptile can imitate. They are known to
spend their entire lives diving into the water to look for some food to
eat, particularly green algae, so they dominate the shorelines the way
penguins and sea lions do. Another weird thing about these weirdest
lizards is that they use their jaws to scrape algae from the submerged
rocks in the sea.
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Flying geckos are tropical lizards known for their small body and
striking adaptation abilities. These lizards reach about six to eight
inches from tongue to tail tip. They are characterized by their
prominent skin flaps as well as their incredible ability to camouflage
and blend in with their habitats. The most unique feature of these
lizards is their gliding behavior. They extend their legs and tails so
they can guide from one tree to another. No wonder why these lizards
species cannot be seen right away because of their natural ability to
hide and blend well with the environment.
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Also known as the Gila Monster, Heloderma Suspectum is a stout lizard
that has a short and fat tails. Its body is covered with hard, rounded,
and bead-like scales and its tongue is forked and dark. Unlike other
lizards, the Gila monsters are relatively lethargic and slow-moving.
They spend most of their time in underground burrows and only come out
and turn active around three weeks every year. These lizards are not
inherently aggressive, but they are forced to become such when they are
attacked or captured. One of the most important markings of Gila
monsters are their reticulated and mottled patterns. All lizards and
other animals have different characteristics, and responses according to
human’s approaches to them. Either they will treat you as comrades or an
intruder to their habitation.
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Bipes Biporus are worm lizards characterized by their elongated and pink
bodies. They are the only amphisbaenian that have limbs. The forelimbs
of these lizards are small yet well-developed, and unlike most lizards,
they have five digits on each limb. Like the Gila monster, worm lizards
rarely emerge from the ground as they reside in tunnels in the soil.
They can be easily identified through their lateral undulation and
concertina locomotion, which is common among reptiles without limbs.
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Known as the largest lizard in the world, Varanus Komodens or Komodo
Dragon has a heavy-set body, long, stocky legs and long, muscular tail.
Its body is covered with gray-brown scaly skin all over. This lizard is
easy to identify because of its yellow head and because of the striking
pattern of its body, which involve diverse combinations of bands and
speckling that come in yellow, gray, green, and brown colors. Even its
tongue is forked and yellow, resembling those of fire-breathing dragons. |
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More Interesting Pictures
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