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Kingdom:<\/strong> Animalia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Phylum:<\/strong> Chordata<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Class:<\/strong> Reptilia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Order:<\/strong> Squamata<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Suborder:<\/strong> Lacertilia (also called Sauria)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0Common Names<\/h4>\n
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Lizard<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Wall Gecko (a common house lizard)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Agama (bright-colored African lizard)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Monitor Lizard (large, powerful species)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Geographic Distribution<\/h4>\n
Lizards live on almost every continent except Antarctica. You\u2019ll find them in:<\/p>\n
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African forests and savannahs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Tropical and desert regions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Inside homes and gardens<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Rainforests and rocky mountains<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Image showing an agama lizard sunbathing on concrete post (Source: Pexels)<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0Physical Characteristics<\/h4>\n
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Body:<\/strong> Slender and long with four legs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Tail:<\/strong> Some can drop their tails to escape danger<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Skin:<\/strong> Scaly and dry<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Eyes:<\/strong> Sharp and alert, some can move independently<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Color:<\/strong> From plain brown to bright orange, green, or blue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Common species of Lizards<\/h4>\n
1. Agama Lizard<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Agama](\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/media\/2022\/03\/shutterstock_40634815-1024x614.jpg\")
Image showing a m<\/span>ale agama with bright blue and red colors (Source: A-Z Animals)<\/em><\/p>\n- \n
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Found across Africa<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Males have bright heads during mating season<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Lives on rocks and sunny walls<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Key Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Size: 12\u201330 cm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Active during the day<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Eats insects<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. Wall Gecko<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"33,500+](\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/id\/614230186\/photo\/house-gecko-on-wall.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=mfs1nsBvAyLv5zlgjE3tzDyWWSmKIc1tnuW3btaXdk0=\")
Image showing a small pale lizard clinging to a wall (Source: iStock)<\/em><\/p>\n- \n
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Lives in homes, eats mosquitoes and insects<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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No eyelids \u2014 licks eyes to clean them<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Makes soft clicking sounds at night<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Key Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Size: 5\u201315 cm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Harmless to humans<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Common in Nigeria and other warm regions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3. Monitor Lizard<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Common](\"https:\/\/invasives.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/681a23d9bda3cc6608e358bb4db90e3a_2.jpg\")
Image showing a large monitor lizard near water (Source: Invasive Species South Africa)<\/em><\/p>\n- \n
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Big and powerful, some over 2 meters long<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Lives in forests and riversides<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Can bite or scratch when threatened<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Key Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Size: Up to 3 meters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Eats fish, eggs, rodents<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Not for keeping as pets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What do Lizards eat?<\/h4>\n
Most lizards are insect eaters, but some eat fruit, plants, or even small animals. Their diet includes:<\/p>\n
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Ants and termites<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Cockroaches<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Spiders<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Grasshoppers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Small birds or rodents (larger lizards)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0Fun facts about Lizards<\/h4>\n
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Some lizards can regrow their tail if it\u2019s cut off!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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They love basking in the sun to stay warm.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Lizards use their tongue to smell the air.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Some can change color to blend in or show mood.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Wall geckos are great at climbing smooth walls.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0Importance to Humans<\/h4>\n
Helpful Roles:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Kill mosquitoes and bugs inside homes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Natural pest control in farms and gardens<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Part of many local folktales and traditions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Food source in some cultures<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Challenges:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Some people fear them (though most are harmless)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Large lizards may eat small farm animals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Can carry bacteria like salmonella (mostly in pets)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Health & common issues<\/h4>\n
Lizards rarely need care unless they are kept as pets or found injured.<\/p>\n
Common Problems:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Injuries from falls or predators<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Tail loss (they regrow it, but slowly)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Skin shedding problems<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Dehydration or stress in captivity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For pet lizards:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Need UV light and proper diet<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Must be kept warm and clean<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Require regular vet checkups<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Conservation Status<\/h3>\n
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Most common lizards are not endangered.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Some types, like the Komodo Dragon, are protected.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Threats include habitat loss, hunting, and pollution.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many countries now protect wild reptiles and promote conservation in parks and reserves.<\/p>\n
![\"Free](\"https:\/\/freerangestock.com\/sample\/109255\/lizard-sitting-on-rock-outside.jpg\")
Image showing a lizard sitting on a warm stone in the sun (Source: Freerange Stock)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nIf you have just found an injured wild reptile or you need help with keeping a pet lizard, you can reach out to us at Doctor Hulk Veterinary Hospital,\u00a0<\/strong>or simply call\u00a008143397614.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lizards are small to medium-sized reptiles that live in many parts of the world. They move quietly, climb easily, and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":30953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[20],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-29867","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-vertebrates","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"shipping-taxable","11":"product-type-simple"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29867"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30809,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29867\/revisions\/30809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=29867"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=29867"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=29867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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