Added 14 September 2004. Last updated 14 November 2022: added link to Liolaemus.
This page accompanies the preceding on the two ways (at least!) of considering the classification of iguanid lizards. Since this is still a fairly contentious area, we have placed the genera in a simple alphabetical order rather than attempting to assign them to the various families and subfamilies. However, since there is disagreement even at the generic level, we have included some names which are now not recognised by some or all authorities, but which may occur in older literature.
It seems probably safe to say that there is more discussion over the huge number of anole-related lizards, and over the less well-known South American iguanids, than there is over the North American species.
In an effort to tidy up the page, I have removed the synonyms, which can be found at the Reptile Database as follows:
Aptycholaemus, Aperopristis, Audantia, Chamaeleolis, Chamaelinorops, Cupriguanus, Deiroptyx, Garbesaura, Phenacosaurus, Polychroides, Xiphocercus |
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Abas, Ceiolaemus, Ophryoessoides, Pelusaurus, Platynotus, Proctotretus, Strobilurus, Vilcunia |
The genus Sator has been synonymised with Sceloporus. The species known as Tropidodactylus onca has now been reassigned to the genus Anolis, as has the entire genus Norops. The genus name Mariguana on this page was a mistake.
NAVIGATION: As this is a large page we have placed a couple of navigation links in each genus box. Click on "B" to go to the Bibliography, or "I" to go back up to the index (Quick Links).
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QUICK INDEX |
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Amblyrhynchus, Marine Iguanas |
Anisolepis, Tree Lizards |
Anolis, Anoles |
Basiliscus, Basilisks |
Brachylophus, Fiji Iguanas |
Callisaurus, Zebra Lizards |
Chalarodon, Malagasy Iguana |
Conolophus, Galapagos Land Iguanas |
Cophosaurus, Greater Earless Lizard |
Corytophanes, Crested/Helmeted Iguanas |
Crotaphytus, Collared Lizards |
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Ctenosaura, Spiny-Tailed Iguanas |
Cyclura, Rhinoceros Iguanas |
Diplolaemus, Bell's, Darwin and Leopard Iguanas |
Dipsosaurus, Desert Iguana |
Enyalius, Fathead Anoles |
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Holbrookia, Earless Lizards |
Hoplocercus, Weapontail |
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Iguana, Green Iguanas |
Laemanctus, Coneheads |
Leiocephalus, Curly-Tails |
Leiosaurus, Anoles |
Liolaemus, Snow Swifts |
Microlophus, Pacific Iguanas |
Morunasaurus, Spinytail Iguanas |
Norops, Anoles |
Oplurus, Malagasy Spiny-Tails/Swifts |
Petrosaurus, Rock Lizards |
Phymaturus, Andean Swifts |
Phrynosoma, Horned Lizards |
Plica, Tree Runners/Lizards |
Polychrus, Bush Anoles |
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Pristidactylus, Anoles |
Sauromalus, Chuckwallas |
Sceloporus, Swifts and Spiny Lizards |
Stenocercus, Whorltail Iguanas |
Tropidurus, Lava Lizards |
Uma, Fringe-Toed Lizards |
Uracentron, Thornytail Iguanas |
Urosaurus, Tree, Brush and Small-Scaled Lizards |
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Urostrophus, Steppe Iguanas |
Uta, Side-Blotched Lizards |
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Genus |
Common Name |
No. of Species |
Distribution |
Notes |
Marine Iguaua |
1 |
Galapagos Islands off Ecuador |
The world's only marine lizard, inasmuch as it swims to the seabed once a day to consume plantlife for several minutes. Most of its time, however, is spent basking on the shore in very large colonies. There are several subspecies. B I |
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Tree Lizards |
3 |
Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina |
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Anoles |
200+ |
Mainly Caribbean, also C & S America: 1 native to US, a few others introduced into Florida |
A very large group of mostly small lizards, even after many species were removed to Norops and other genera. |
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Basilisks |
4 |
Central America and N South America |
Medium-sized, fairly popular terrarium subjects that are unmistakeable in appearance. This applies particularly to males, who have a striking "fin" and crest along the dorsum. They tend to be highly-strung, so a large terrarium is necessary. B I |
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Fiji Iguanas |
2 |
Fiji and Tonga, New Hebrides |
Bluish-green large iguanas whose appearance in the Pacific islands is normally attributed to rafting. They are heavily protected, but some herpetoculturists have succeeded in breeding them in captivity. B I |
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Zebratail Lizard |
1 |
USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico) and Mexico (Sonora and Sinaloa) |
An interesting species to observe in nature, but usually a poor captive subject for all but specialists. B I |
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Dwarf Malagasy Iguana |
1 |
SW Madagascar |
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Galapagos Land Iguanas |
2 |
Galapagos Islands |
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Greater Earless Lizard |
1 |
USA, Mexico |
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Helmeted Iguanas |
3 |
Mexico and Central America |
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Collared Lizards |
7 |
USA, Mexico |
Pugnacious, predatory and attractive lizards who require fairly dry and hot conditions. A large cage is necessary to show off their behaviour, such as running on hindlimbs only. B I |
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?? |
1 |
Peru |
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Spiny-Tailed Iguanas |
14 |
Mainly Mexico, also Honduras, El Salvador, Guatamala and Costa Rica: introduced into USA in Florida and S Texas |
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Rhino Iguanas/ Island Iguanas |
8 |
Caribbean (inc. Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Cayman Islands) |
Large, bulky and long-lived iguanas who live in colonies and have a necessity for their own kind: hence keeping a single individual is far from ideal. Unfortunately in the wild some populations and subspecies are very much endangered by predation and the degradation of habitat by humans and their commensals. B I |
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Bell's, Darwin's and Leopard Iguana |
3 |
Argentina and Chile |
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Desert Iguana |
1-2 |
SW USA, NW Mexico |
Elegant and attractive iguanid, somewhat smaller than most of its relatives. It occupies very hot, dry areas, and seems to favour the locality of creosote bushes. If kept in captivity then humidity must be avoided at all costs. B I |
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Dwarf Iguanas |
7 |
Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia |
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Fathead Anoles |
8 |
Mainly Brazil, also Ecuador and Uruguay |
??. B I |
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Leopard Lizards |
3 |
US |
Similar in behaviour and ecology to the Collared Lizards, Crotaphytus. B I |
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Earless Lizards |
4 |
USA, Mexico |
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Weapontail |
1 |
SE Brazil, Bolivia |
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Green Iguanas |
2 |
Caribbean, Central and N South America |
Green iguanas probably need no introduction, yet their care is more demanding than many would-be keepers realise. Full-sized adults can reach 6' in total length and require high humidity, lots of UV light and a daily vegetarian diet. They are among the most intelligent of lizards. If you are committed enough to keep a green iguana, try your local reptile sanctuary first, as many “igs” have been abandoned or given up in recent years and need good homes. B I |
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Cone-Headed Lizards/Casque- Headed Iguanas |
2 |
Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua |
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Curly-Tails |
28 |
Caribbean?? |
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Anoles |
3 |
Mainly Argentina, also Brazil and Paraguay |
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Snow Swifts, Tree Iguanas |
154 |
S South America |
Despite the huge size of this genus, there is little commonly available information on the species which enter, or have entered, the pet trade in recent years. This is a pity, firstly because the different species have diverse requirements, and secondly because many are attractive subjects who will probably do well if kept properly. Many hail from the Andes where conditions can be quite cold, hence the common name. B I |
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Pacific Iguanas |
20 |
? |
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Spinytail Iguanas |
3 |
Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru |
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Anoles |
150+ |
Mainly Caribbean, also C America, N & South America |
Norops was a group of species that were separated from the genus Anolis. It includes such well-known anole lizards as Norops sagrei, the Brown Anole. More recently the genus was invalidated. B I |
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Malagasy Spiny-Tails/ Malagasy Swifts |
6 |
Madagascar |
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Rock Lizards |
2 |
USA, Mexico |
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Andean Chuckwallas |
10 |
Mainly Argentina, also Chile |
Referred to as "Chilean chuckwallas" by Bosch & Werning: as most are now found in Argentina, I have referred to them by the common name here. |
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Horned "Toads" |
14 |
Mainly Mexico, also Guatemala, USA: poss. 2 in S Canada |
In appearance and ecology these unusual lizards are somewhat similar to the Australian agama Moloch horridus. They too live in desert conditions and are primarily ant-eaters, though some will take other food as well. However, none do particularly well in captivity owing to both dietary and low-humidity requirements, and most people should forego keeping these animals. When threatened, some Phrynosoma have the ability to squirt a jet of blood from the corner of their eyes, startling would-be predators. B I |
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11 |
?? |
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Tree Runners, Tree Lizards |
8 |
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, Trinidad, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador |
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Bush Anoles |
6 |
Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama |
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Anoles |
10 |
Argentina and Chile |
Considered members of the family Leiosauridae rather than the Polychrotidae, and thus belong to a different group to Anolis, Norops and Polychrus. |
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Chuckwallas |
6 |
USA and Mexico |
Rather chunky herbivorous lizards that live in hot arid areas where they dwell among rocks. They make good captives given the right caging and temperatures. |
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Swifts, Spiny Lizards |
77 |
Mainly Mexico, also USA, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama; poss. S Canada (1 species) |
Kept mainly by US keepers and less frequently seen in the UK, these are fast lizards and need to be housed accordingly. Most are fairly hardy but their needs vary according to their place of origin, which should be correctly established. |
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Whorltail Iguanas |
53 |
Mainly Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, also Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil |
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Lava Lizards |
27 |
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Fringe-Toed Lizards |
5 |
USA and Mexico |
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Thornytail Iguanas |
2 |
N South America |
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Diving Lizard |
1 |
N Brazil, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, E Venezuela, E Colombia, NE Peru, Bolivia |
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Tree, Brush and Small-Scaled Lizards |
10 |
Mexico, also USA |
Small tree-dwellingspecies. |
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Steppe Iguanas |
2 |
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil |
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Uta |
Side-Blotched Lizards |
9 |
Mexico, also USA |
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Green Iguanas and other Iguanids, Dr Hubert Bosch and Heiko Werning, TFH 1996 (originally published in German, 1991, as Leguane). See Iguanid page for recommendation of this book.
The following has not been read by the writer, but would appear to be of interest:
Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, A C Alberts, University of California Press 2004, 372pp.
Index of Iguanid-related articles from herpetological magazines.
International Iguana Foundation is a non-profit organisation working for conservation and the raising of public awareness. It appears to deal mainly with Iguana and Cyclura species.
DGHT-AG Iguana - the German herp society DGHT's working group on iguanids. The group produces a regular publication (German language for the most part but also with some English language articles).
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