Lizards of the World

A lavishly illustrated overview of the world’s lizards

Lizards are one of nature’s great success stories: survivors from the time of the dinosaurs, they have taken advantage of almost every habitat on earth, from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra and even our homes. From chameleons and skinks to geckos and iguanas, there are close to 7,000 species of lizards around the world. This expert guide explores their extraordinary diversity and adaptations.

Lizards of the World features an in-depth introduction covering the evolution, anatomy, and lifestyle of lizards, followed by profiles of species from every family, accompanied by stunning color photographs. This invaluable guide highlights the enormous range of habitats, appearance, and activity among lizards. Many thrive in extreme conditions, and have adapted to keep cool, warm, or hydrated. Some can protect themselves by changing color to blend in with their surroundings, while others have fringed toes enabling them to run across sand, or can parachute out of a predator’s reach. Covering diet and reproduction as well as defense strategies and conservation, Lizards of the World showcases the unique natural history and beauty of these remarkable creatures.

• More than 200 detailed photographic images
• 80+ lizard families and subfamilies
• Exploration of lizard biology, behavior, habits, and distribution
• Broad coverage and in-depth treatment by a world-renowned herpetologist

"[Sure] to become a landmark and iconic reference for years to come."---Howard O. Clark, Jr., Sonoran Herpetologist

"Lizards of the World is authoritative, taxonomically detailed, and filled with wonderful photographs. This great book shows that an Earth without lizards wouldn’t be a planet worth living on."—Eric R. Pianka, coauthor of Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity