Gekkota
Encyclopedia
Gekkota is an infraorder of reptile
s in the suborder Scleroglossa
, comprising all gecko
s and the limbless Pygopodidae
. The legless lizards of the family Dibamidae
are also referred to as blind lizards but recent molecular phylogenies suggest they are not gekkotans.
Gekkota are a suborder of Squamata
, and consists of 7 families:
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s in the suborder Scleroglossa
Scleroglossa
Scleroglossa is the previously recognized suborder of Squamata that contains the geckos, anguids, worm lizards, monitor lizards, such as helodermatids, skinks and snakes. The name is derived from the Greek, skleros, meaning hard and glossa, meaning tongue.Traditionally, Squamata has been divided...
, comprising all gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
s and the limbless Pygopodidae
Pygopodidae
Pygopodidae is a family of squamates that have reduced or absent limbs and are related to the geckos. There are at least 35 species in two subfamilies and eight genera. They have unusually long, slender, bodies, giving them a strong resemblance to snakes...
. The legless lizards of the family Dibamidae
Dibamidae
Dibamidae is a family of legless lizards found in tropical forests. Relatively little is known about the dibamid lizards, which are native to Mexico, SE Asia, Indonesia, the Philippine Islands and western New Guinea....
are also referred to as blind lizards but recent molecular phylogenies suggest they are not gekkotans.
Gekkota are a suborder of Squamata
Squamata
Squamata, or the scaled reptiles, is the largest recent order of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making it possible to move the upper jaw relative to the...
, and consists of 7 families:
- Family PygopodidaePygopodidaePygopodidae is a family of squamates that have reduced or absent limbs and are related to the geckos. There are at least 35 species in two subfamilies and eight genera. They have unusually long, slender, bodies, giving them a strong resemblance to snakes...
- Family CarphodactylidaeCarphodactylidaeThe Carphodactylidae are a family of geckos consisting of 28 described species. All species occur in Australia.The following genera are considered members of the Carphodactylidae: Carphodactylus, Nephrurus, Orraya, Phyllurus, Saltuarius, Underwoodisaurus, and Uvidicolus....
- Family Diplodactylidae
- Family Gekkonidae
- Family SphaerodactylidaeSphaerodactylidaeSphaerodactylidae are a family of geckos distributed in North and South America and the Caribbean as well as Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and into Central Asia...
- Family PhyllodactylidaePhyllodactylidaeThe Phyllodactylidae are a family of geckos consisting of approximately distributed throughout the New World, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East...
- Family Eublepharidae