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Facts about lizards tell us how fascinating these reptiles truly are! From their ability to detach their tails to their unique skills like changing colours, lizards are full of amazing survival tricks. Did you know that some lizards such as the Marine Galapagos are the only swimming lizards? They scrape algae from underwater rocks for food. Interestingly, lizards are part of a group of animals known as reptiles, yet they are more closely related to snakes. In this blog, you will read more such interesting facts about lizard to help you understand what makes these creatures truly fascinating!
| Particular | Fats about Lizard |
| Diet | Clover, dandelion, mulberry leaves, chopped fruits and vegetables |
| Average lifespan | Depends on species Geckos– 10-15 years Chameleons– 5-7 years Iguanas– upto 20 years |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs |
| Predators | hawks, snakes, dogs, wolves and other lizards |
Table of Contents
- 1 Fact 1: Lizards Can Detach Their Tails to Escape
- 2 Fact 2: Lizards Live Almost Everywhere on Earth
- 3 Fact 3: Some Lizards Rarely Need Water
- 4 Fact 4: Some Lizards Are Venomous
- 5 Fact 5: Lizards Can Change Color
- 6 Fact 6: Geckos Have Sticky Toes
- 7 Fact 7: Horned Lizards Squirt Blood from Their Eyes
- 8 Fact 8: Chameleons Can Look in Two Directions
- 9 Fact 9: Basilisk Lizards Can Run on Water
- 10 Fact 10: Some Lizards Eat Only Three Times a Year
- 11 FAQs
Fact 1: Lizards Can Detach Their Tails to Escape
When threatened, some lizards detach their tails to distract predators. It is a survival reflex called autotomy. This allows them to escape while the predator focuses on the moving tail. As gross as it may sound, their tail eventually regrows!
Fact 2: Lizards Live Almost Everywhere on Earth
Lizards are found on every continent except Antarctica! Their ability to adapt to diverse habitats like forests, mountains, and marshes makes them some of the most widespread reptiles.
Fact 3: Some Lizards Rarely Need Water
Certain desert-dwelling lizards can survive without drinking water, relying on moisture from their food. This adaptation helps them thrive in arid environments. Moreover, some species can absorb water through their skin. Research suggests that species such as the Australian horny devil and the Texas horned have tiny tube-like channels under their scales that soak and send water throughout their bodies.
Fact 4: Some Lizards Are Venomous
While most lizards are harmless, species like the Gila Monster and Komodo Dragon are venomous. Their venom helps them hunt prey or defend against predators. Gila monsters, the largest lizards in the United States, yield a strong bite force on their prey while the glands in their lower jaw release a nerve poison.
Source: YouTube – Brave Wilderness/ Picture of a venomous lizard
Fact 5: Lizards Can Change Color
The next interesting fact about lizards is that certain species such as Chameleons and Anoles can change their skin colour, influenced by mood, temperature, or surroundings. Unlike birds or mammals, lizards cannot produce their own body heat. Thus, they rely on thermoregulating to control their body temperature. This is why some lizards have a dark skin colour, helping them absorb sun rays and get warm quickly.
Fact 6: Geckos Have Sticky Toes
Geckos’ unique toe pads let them climb smooth surfaces like walls and trees. Their adhesiveness comes from tiny microscopic hair-like structures that are arranged in a unique pattern at the bottom of their feet. They also lack eyelids, using their tongues to clean their eyes instead!
Fact 7: Horned Lizards Squirt Blood from Their Eyes
The next fact on this list of facts about lizards for kids is that Horned lizards can squirt blood from their eyes to scare predators. This defence mechanism can also clean dust and dirt from their eyes! They can shoot blood up to 5 feet away, targeting the eyes and mouths of their predators.
Source: PALAEOBLOG/ Picture of Horned lizard
Fact 8: Chameleons Can Look in Two Directions
Chameleons have fused eyelids with small openings, allowing them to see in two directions at once. This helps them spot prey and predators simultaneously using a unique 360-degree vision. They can also move their eyes independently, allowing them to focus on 2 different objects at the same time.
Fact 9: Basilisk Lizards Can Run on Water
Another one of the many interesting facts about lizard is that the Basilisk lizard is nicknamed the Jesus Christ Lizard? This is because the Basilisk can run on water for a long distance using fringed toes and momentum. This helps them escape predators quickly. They make this happen using only their feet as a source of lift and thrust.
Source: Physics World/ Picture of a Basilisk lizard running on the water
Fact 10: Some Lizards Eat Only Three Times a Year
Each lizard species has its own feeding requirement. However, they do not need to eat as often as human beings. Take for instance the Mexican Bearded Lizard which survives on just 3 meals annually. It has an extremely slow metabolism, helping the lizard to use its energy efficiently.
FAQs
5 facts about lizards include that they can detach their tails to escape predators, they can live almost everywhere except Antarctica, some lizard species can change colours, some species have survival tricks that help them run on water, and lastly, a few species are venomous.
5 characteristics of lizards include that they are cold-blooded, they have scaly skin, their toes are clawed, they have external ear openings, and lastly, most species are able to regrow their tails if lost.
Lizards enter houses in search of food like insects or a safe environment. They are attracted to light sources where insects gather.
Lizards have unique abilities like tail detachment, colour-changing, and running on water. Some species also have exceptional climbing skills due to sticky toe pads.
Yes, lizards sleep! They rest during their inactive hours, often hiding in dark, quiet spaces to avoid predators and conserve energy. Moreover, lizards in cold climates brumate which is a type of hibernation for several months until it warms up again.
Lizards are famous for their adaptability, unique defence mechanisms like tail detachment, and the incredible skills of species like chameleons and geckos.
Most lizards eat insects like flies and spiders, but larger species can eat small animals. Some lizards, like the Marine Galapagos Lizard, eat algae.
Some lizards, like geckos, make chirping or clicking sounds at night to communicate with each other, especially during mating or territory marking.
Lizards are generally calm and solitary. They spend time hunting for food, basking in sunlight for warmth, and hiding to avoid predators.
In some cultures, seeing a lizard is considered lucky, symbolizing renewal or protection, while in others, it may just be seen as a regular occurrence.
Interesting Reads
Hope you had fun reading these facts about lizard. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!