Teiidae

Range: distributed in Central and South America.

Genera: 11 Species: 129 Ecology and behavior: They inhabit diverse biotopes from arid areas to rainforests. Some species specialize on strictly defined food resources. The caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) feeds mainly on aquatic snails and spends most of its time in water. Other species are predominantly terrestrial and feed on small mammals and insects. Morphological features: Body length ranges from 8 cm to 1.5 m. The body is elongated, with a pointed head and elongated neck, trunk, and tail. Limbs are well developed. They are characterized by a long forked tongue that helps in food search. Scales on the head are large; ventral scales are large and rectangular. In some species, only females exist. They reproduce without males and lay unfertilized eggs from which only females hatch. Dracaena guianensis Tupinambis teguixin Sources: 1. Animal Life. In 7 volumes. Volume 5. Amphibians.

Reptiles.

2. Higher Taxa in Extant Reptiles