Night lizard
590047
197055022
2008-03-09T19:16:11Z
MalafayaBot
553296
robot Adding: [[ro:Xantusiidae]]
{{Taxobox
| name = Night lizards
| image = Xantusia vigilis1.jpg
| image_caption = ''Xantusia vigilis''
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| familia = '''Xantusiidae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''Night lizards''' ([[family (biology)|family]] name Xantusiidae) are a group of very small, [[vivipary|viviparous]] (live-bearing) [[lizards]], averaging from less than 4 cm to over 12 cm long. It has only three [[genus|genera]], with approximately 23 living [[species]]. The genera are divided by geographic range: ''[[Xantusia]]'' in southwestern [[North America]] and [[Baja California]], ''[[Cricosaura]]'' in [[Cuba]], and ''[[Lepidophyma]]'', the most populous night lizard genus, in [[Central America]].
Night lizards were originally mistaken to be [[nocturnal]] because of their secretive lifestyle, but they are in fact strictly [[diurnal animal|diurnal]]. Physically, night lizards are characterized by relatively flat bodies and heads. Their heads are covered by large, smooth plates, while their bodies have rougher, granular skin. Their eyes, like those of [[snakes]], are covered by immoveable, transparent membranes that function as eyelids. They feed on [[insectivore|insects]] and sometimes [[herbivore|plants]].
Contrary to the reproductive strategies of most small lizards, night lizards tend to have very low reproductive rates, with several species giving birth to only one or two offspring. They generally take several years to reach [[sexual maturity]]. However, the very limited lifestyle of night lizards has contributed to a high life expectancy. Night lizards have [[evolution|evolved]] to live in very narrow environmental niches—"microhabitat specialization"—such as rock crevices or damp logs, and may spend their entire life under the same cover.
==Classification==
'''Family Xantusiidae'''
*'''Subfamily Cricosaurinae'''
**Genus [[Cricosaura]]
*'''Subfamily Xantusiinae'''
**Genus [[Lepidophyma]]
**Genus [[Xantusia]]
[[Category:Lizards]]
[[Category:Night lizards| ]]
[[de:Nachtechsen]]
[[fr:Xantusiidae]]
[[hu:Xantusiidae]]
[[nl:Xantusiidae]]
[[no:Nattøgler]]
[[pl:Jaszczurki nocne]]
[[pt:Xantusiidae]]
[[ro:Xantusiidae]]
[[ru:Ночные ящерицы]]