Squamata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Reptilia |
Superorder: | Lepidosauria |
Order: | Squamata Oppel, 1811 |
Subgroups | |
Squamata ("scaled reptiles") is the order of reptiles which includes lizards and snakes.
Their skins have overlapping horny scales. They also have movable quadrate bones, which make it possible to move the upper jaw relative to the braincase. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able to open their mouths very wide to accommodate comparatively large prey.
They are the most variably-sized order of reptiles, ranging from the 16 mm (0.63 in.) Dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus ariasae) to the 8 m (26 ft.) Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus).