Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 6, 2026

Liolaemidae

Liolaemidae are a family of iguanian lizards. They were traditionally included in the family Iguanidae as subfamily Liolaeminae, which some more recent authors prefer to delimit in a more restricted way. This family is only found within South America with the widest range being in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Paraguay. A common name for this group is liolaemids. Liolaemidae are typically herbivores that have a diet high in fruit. Because of this special diet, Liolaemidae have a larger small intestine when compared to other similar omnivorous and insectivorous lizards. Liolaemidae also have evolved both herbivory and omnivory independently more times than any other lizard group

Last revised
Jul 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
246 w
Citations
4
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Liolaemidae
male Liolaemus tenuis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Liolaemidae
Frost & Etheridge, 1989
Synonyms

Liolaeminae (but see text)

Liolaemidae are a family of iguanian lizards.1 They were traditionally included in the family Iguanidae as subfamily Liolaeminae, which some more recent authors prefer to delimit in a more restricted way. This family is only found within South America with the widest range being in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Paraguay.2 A common name for this group is liolaemids. Liolaemidae are typically herbivores that have a diet high in fruit. Because of this special diet, Liolaemidae have a larger small intestine when compared to other similar omnivorous and insectivorous lizards.3 Liolaemidae also have evolved both herbivory and omnivory independently more times than any other lizard group2

The genera placed here are:

References

References

  1. Uetz, P.; et al. (eds.). "Liolaemidae". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. Pinchiera-Donoso, Daniel; Scolaro, Jose Alejandro; Sura, Piotr (2008). A monographic catalogue on the systematics and phylogeny of the South American iguanian lizard family Liolaemidae (Squamata, Iguania). Magnolia Press. pp. 4–6, 7.
  3. O'Grady, Shannon P. (2005). "Correlating diet and digestive tract specialization: Examples from the lizard family Liolaemidae". Zoology. 108 (3). Urban & Fischer: 201–210. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2005.06.002. PMID 16351968.