Cape May County

Lizards

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia

Lizards usually have four legs, moveable eye lids and external ear opening. All of fixed jawbones. This suborder included approximately 3,000 different species. Unlike snakes, who shed their scales in one whole piece, lizards shed in spots and scales by scale.

Family: Teiidae Black Tegu

The Black and White Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) is a South American lizard reaching lengths of over 3 ft. While primarily eating invertebrates and small animals, the tegu also eats a variety of fruits and vegetables and other plant life. It's long, thick tail can deliver a powerful blow to anything that gets to close.

Family: Gekkonidae

The Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a nocturnal lizard. Found in Southern Asia, the Leopard Gecko grows to 10 inches long and uses its tail to store fat to be metabolized when food is scarce.

Family: Varanidae Mertens Water Monitor

The Merten's Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi) of Western Australia is a powerful swimmer and agile climber. This carnivorous lizard eats a variety of fish, crabs, frogs, invertebrates and small mammals when available and is usually found near swamps, lakes, rivers and lagoons.

Family: Iguanidae

The Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta), part of our SSP program, gets its name from the 3 horn-like growths on the top of its nose. This diurnal lizard is primarily herbivorous, eating a wide variety of fruits vegetables and other plants, but may also eat invertebrates, eggs, and carrion on occasion. When threatened, this animal will open its mouth, huff and bob its head in random directions to deter predators.

For a complete list of all
of the animals at our zoo
please see the Animal Fact Page