Knowra Teiidae Teiidae Teiidae is a family of mostly terrestrial lizards native to the Americas, including tegus, whiptails, and racerunners. Its members are generally active, fast-moving predators with forked tongues.
Squamata : The reptile order containing lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians. Teiidae is one of Squamata’s lizard families.
Tongue-flicking : The rapid extension and retraction of a tongue to collect chemical particles for sensory analysis. Teiids use forked tongues to sample chemical cues while exploring and hunting.
Argentine black and white tegu : A large South American teiid, Salvator merianae, with a black-and-white patterned body. This prominent tegu illustrates the family’s large-bodied, omnivorous members.
Iguanidae : A family of lizards that includes iguanas, anoles, and related groups. Iguanids are another diverse American lizard family, but belong to a different lineage.
Lizard : A reptile with four limbs in the typical form, movable eyelids, and external ear openings. Teiids are lizards, though their family has distinctive anatomy and behavior.
Jacobson's organ : A paired chemosensory organ in the roof of the mouth that detects particles delivered by the tongue. It helps teiids interpret chemical information gathered during tongue-flicking.
Green ameiva : A brightly colored Central and South American teiid in the genus Ameiva. Ameivas exemplify the family’s diverse ground-foraging lizards.
Lacertidae : A family of lizards commonly known as wall lizards, sand lizards, and true lizards. Lacertids resemble many teiids in body form but are primarily Old World.
Teiioidea : A clade of mostly American lizards that includes teiids and their close relatives. This broader group places Teiidae among related New World lizard families.
Sprint (locomotion) : Rapid movement powered by repeated bursts of muscular force. Many teiids rely on speed to pursue prey and escape predators.
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