Pygopodidae: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
m added additional citations |
||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| subdivision = 2, ''See text'' |
| subdivision = 2, ''See text'' |
||
}} |
}} |
||
The '''Pygopodidae''' (commonly known as '''legless lizards''', '''snake-lizards''' or '''flap-footed lizards''') are a family of [[squamates]] with reduced or absent limbs and are related to the [[gecko]]s. There are at least 35 [[species]] in two [[subfamilies]] and eight [[genera]]. They have unusually long, slender, bodies, giving them a strong resemblance to [[snake]]s. Like both snakes and most geckos, they have no eyelids, but unlike snakes, they have external ear holes and flat, unforked tongues.<ref name=EoR>{{cite book |editor=Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.|author= Bauer, Aaron M.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 150–152|isbn= 0-12-178560-2}}</ref> They are native to [[Australia]] and [[New Guinea]]. |
The '''Pygopodidae''' (commonly known as '''legless lizards''', '''snake-lizards''' or '''flap-footed lizards''') are a family of [[squamates]] with reduced or absent limbs and are related to the [[gecko]]s <ref>[http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039429 Gamble, T., E. Greenbaum, T.R. Jackman, A.P. Russell, and A.M. Bauer. 2012. Repeated origin and loss of adhesive toepads in geckos. PLoS ONE 7:e39429]</ref>. There are at least 35 [[species]] in two [[subfamilies]] and eight [[genera]]. They have unusually long, slender, bodies, giving them a strong resemblance to [[snake]]s. Like both snakes and most geckos, they have no eyelids, but unlike snakes, they have external ear holes and flat, unforked tongues.<ref name=EoR>{{cite book |editor=Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.|author= Bauer, Aaron M.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 150–152|isbn= 0-12-178560-2}}</ref> They are native to [[Australia]] and [[New Guinea]]. |
||
Pygopods have no fore limbs at all, but they do possess [[vestigial]] hind limbs in the form of small, flattened, flaps.<ref name=EoR/> These may have some role in courtship and defensive behaviour, and may even aid in locomotion through vegetation. Some species are [[insectivore|insectivorous]] burrowing animals, but others are adapted to moving through dense [[Triodia_(grass)|spinifex]] or other vegetation. Like the geckos, pygopods lay two [[egg (biology)|eggs]] in each [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch]]<ref name=EoR/> and nest communally. Some nests have been found to have as many as 30 eggs. Also like the geckos, Pygopods have the ability to vocalise - emitting a high-pitched squeak. Snakes are incapable of vocalising. |
Pygopods have no fore limbs at all, but they do possess [[vestigial]] hind limbs in the form of small, flattened, flaps.<ref name=EoR/> These may have some role in courtship and defensive behaviour, and may even aid in locomotion through vegetation. Some species are [[insectivore|insectivorous]] burrowing animals, but others are adapted to moving through dense [[Triodia_(grass)|spinifex]] or other vegetation. Like the geckos, pygopods lay two [[egg (biology)|eggs]] in each [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch]]<ref name=EoR/> and nest communally. Some nests have been found to have as many as 30 eggs. Also like the geckos, Pygopods have the ability to vocalise - emitting a high-pitched squeak. Snakes are incapable of vocalising. |
||
Revision as of 21:08, 26 May 2013
- Not to be confused with glass lizards.
| Pygopodidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pygopus lepidopodus,
from Brehms Tierleben, (1892) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Infraorder: | |
| Family: | Pygopodidae
|
| Subfamilies | |
|
2, See text | |
The Pygopodidae (commonly known as legless lizards, snake-lizards or flap-footed lizards) are a family of squamates with reduced or absent limbs and are related to the geckos [1]. 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. Like both snakes and most geckos, they have no eyelids, but unlike snakes, they have external ear holes and flat, unforked tongues.[2] They are native to Australia and New Guinea.
Pygopods have no fore limbs at all, but they do possess vestigial hind limbs in the form of small, flattened, flaps.[2] These may have some role in courtship and defensive behaviour, and may even aid in locomotion through vegetation. Some species are insectivorous burrowing animals, but others are adapted to moving through dense spinifex or other vegetation. Like the geckos, pygopods lay two eggs in each clutch[2] and nest communally. Some nests have been found to have as many as 30 eggs. Also like the geckos, Pygopods have the ability to vocalise - emitting a high-pitched squeak. Snakes are incapable of vocalising.
Pygopods can hear tones higher than any other reptiles. Individuals in the species Delma pax can respond to a 60-decibel sound with a frequency of 11,100 Hz, more than an octave above the highest note on a standard piano.[3]
Classification
FAMILY PYGOPODIDAE
- Subfamily Pygopodinae
- Subfamily Lialisinae
- Tribe Lialisini
- Genus Lialis (two species)
- Tribe Aprasiaini
- Subtribe Pletholaxini
- Genus Pletholax (monotypic)
- Subtribe Aprasiaini
- Genus Ophidiocephalus (monotypic)
- Genus Aprasia (11 species)
- Subtribe Pletholaxini
- Tribe Lialisini
See also
References
- ^ Gamble, T., E. Greenbaum, T.R. Jackman, A.P. Russell, and A.M. Bauer. 2012. Repeated origin and loss of adhesive toepads in geckos. PLoS ONE 7:e39429
- ^ a b c Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 150–152. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ Manley, G. A.; Kraus, J. E. M. (2010). "Exceptional high-frequency hearing and matched vocalizations in Australian pygopod geckos" (PDF). The Journal of Experimental Biology. 213: 1876–85. doi:10.1242/jeb.040196.
