World Lizard Day on August 14 is all about this species-rich group. There are currently over 6,000 species of lizards worldwide, ranging from geckos just a few centimeters long to monitor lizards that grow several meters long. They inhabit deserts , rainforests, rocky landscapes, and even human settlements, and have adapted to a wide variety of climate zones. Our lizard quiz takes this occasion as its starting point and asks you questions about the animals’ biology, behavior, and records. To get started, we want to know which animal group lizards actually belong to scientifically.
Many more quizzes to increase your competencies!
Lizards belong to the order of squamates and are therefore reptiles, just like snakes and crocodiles. Within this order, they form the largest subgroup, comprising over 40 families. This close relationship to snakes surprises many, as the two groups differ significantly in appearance. Less well known, however, is the question of size records in the reptile kingdom. Which lizard species, with a length of up to three meters, is considered the largest in the world?
To find the answer, it’s worth taking a look at Indonesia, where some of the heaviest and longest specimens live in the wild, with some weighing over 70 kilograms. But this lizard quiz isn’t just about size—it’s also about the senses. Unlike humans, lizards navigate their surroundings differently, and their most important tool for doing so is often not where you’d first expect it to be. We want to know from you: So how do many lizards detect smells in their environment?
Over the course of evolution, many species of lizards have developed a strategy to escape predators at the last moment, even if they’ve already been grabbed. The trick involves a body part that regrows over the course of weeks or months—though usually in a different form. What do many lizards do when a predator grabs them by the tail? Test your knowledge now and find out how many of the questions you can answer correctly on the first try.
Prove in the lizard quiz that you really know your reptiles!
22. August 26, 11:05 – Ines Walk
