Alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials are all crocodilians. Like lizards, they're generally considered to be reptiles. However, they're not very closely related to lizards, as reptiles go. Lizards are more closely related to snakes: collectively, snakes and lizards are called squamates (clade Squamata).
- Are crocodiles lizard?
- What is the difference between a lizard and an alligator?
- What are crocodiles and alligators classified as?
- Are crocodiles large lizards?
- Why is alligator not considered a lizard?
- Is a Komodo dragon a lizard?
- Are crocodiles more related to birds or lizards?
- Are alligators part of the lizard family?
- What are the 4 main types of reptiles?
Are crocodiles lizard?
No, crocodiles are not lizards. Although crocodiles and lizards have the similar body shape and they belong to the same class (Reptilia), they are not closely related. Together with alligators and caymans, crocodiles are part of the Crocodilian order. Lizards, on the other side, are members of the order Squamata.
What is the difference between a lizard and an alligator?
Some technical differences between true lizards (Order Squamata) and alligators and crocodiles (Order Crocodilia) is that the true lizards have bony eye rings; no secondary palates (except a few skink species); and overlapping scales.
What are crocodiles and alligators classified as?
Crocodilia
| Crocodilia Temporal range: Late Cretaceous – Recent | |
|---|---|
| Clockwise from top-left: saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), and gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
Are crocodiles large lizards?
crocodile, (order Crocodylia, or Crocodilia), any of 23 species of generally large, ponderous, amphibious animals of lizard-like appearance and carnivorous habit belonging to the reptile order Crocodylia. Crocodiles have powerful jaws with many conical teeth and short legs with clawed webbed toes.
Why is alligator not considered a lizard?
Alligators are archosaurs, a group that includes dinosaurs and birds. So not only are alligators not lizards, they're not even closely related to them and are separated by hundreds of millions of years. Possibly the inside of another alligator.
Is a Komodo dragon a lizard?
Komodo dragons are large lizards with long tails, strong and agile necks, and sturdy limbs. Their tongues are yellow and forked. Adults are an almost-uniform stone color with distinct, large scales, while juveniles may display a more vibrant color and pattern.
Are crocodiles more related to birds or lizards?
(Crocodilians are actually more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than they are to other reptiles, i.e., lizards, snakes, and turtles.)
Are alligators part of the lizard family?
Reptiles are turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles. Unlike amphibians, reptiles breathe only through their lungs and have dry, scaly skin that prevents them from drying out. Amphibians and reptiles are together called herpetofauna, or “herps” for short.
What are the 4 main types of reptiles?
The four main reptile groups are the Turtles and Tortoises, Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Alligators, and Tuatara (a single species more primitive than other reptile groups and found only in a group of small islands near New Zealand).