List of largest extant lizards

Currently there are about 27 extant families of Lacertilia. These vary considerably, e.g. in shades, colours, and sizes. For example, the largest representative among Geckos, New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus), has length of up to 36 cm (14 in), while the largest species in the family Varanidae, Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has length up to 3 metres (10 ft), and body mass 70 kg (154 lbs).

The largest extant lizards

Here are the 15 largest extant lizards based on the most reliable size, including length and weight. These include family types Varanidae and Iguanidae exceeding 9 kg (20 lbs) in mass.

Rank Common name Binomial name Family Maximum reliable or known mass
kg (lb)		 Maximum total length
m (ft)		 Image
1Komodo dragonVaranus komodoensisVaranidae166 (366) in captivity[1]

81.5 (180) caught in the wild, excluding stomach contents Probably 100 (220) including stomach contents[2][1]

3.13 (10.27) in captivity

3.04 (9.97) caught in the wild[2]

2Asian water monitorVaranus salvatorVaranidae50 (110) not firmly verified. Probably 25 (55)[3]3.21 (10.53)[3]
3Crocodile monitorVaranus salvadoriiVaranidae20 (44.1)[1]3.23 (10.6) not firmly verified.
2.65 (8.7).[4]
4Nile monitorVaranus niloticusVaranidae20 (44.1) according to many sources 19 (41.9) the heaviest specimen.[5] Probably larger2.43 (8.0) the longest specimen, the heaviest specimen measuring 213 cm in total length[6]
5PerentieVaranus giganteusVaranidae20 (44.1) according to many sources 17 (37.5) the heaviest specimen.[3][1][7] Probably larger2.44 (8.0) the longest specimen, the heaviest specimen mesuring 193 cm in total length[1]
6Black-throated monitor Varanus albigularis microsticusVaranidae27 (60)[8]2.1 (6.89)[9]
7Lace monitorVaranus variusVaranidae14 (30.87) more reliable[3] 20.5 (45.2), however, whether the measurements took into account the contents of the stomach in the form of four foxes, three small rabbits and three large blue-tongued skinks, is not specified.[10]2.0 (6.55)[3][4] A lizard from Mallacoota, Victoria measured 75 cm SVL, 192 cm TL Another from Healesville was 198 cm long[10]
8Blue iguana Cyclura lewisiIguanidae14 (30.87)[11][12][13] 1.5 (4.91)[11][12]
9Galapagos land iguana Conolophus subcristatusIguanidae13 (28.66)[14][15]1.5 (4.91)[14][15]
10Marine iguana Amblyrhynchus cristatusIguanidae12 (26.46)1.4 (4.59)

11Bengal monitor Varanus bengalensisVaranidae10.2 (22) in capivity
7.2 (15.87) in the wild[16]		1.75 (5.37)

12Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor Varanus bitatawaVaranidae10 (22.05)2.0 (6.55)
13Green iguana Iguana iguanaIguanidae9.1 (20)2.0 (6.55)

14Gray's monitor Varanus olivaceusVaranidae9 (19.84)[17][3]1.76 (5.84)[18][17][3]
15Rhinoceros iguana Cyclura cornutaIguanidae9 (19.84)[19]1.22 (4.0).[20]
Probably 1.36 (4.46)

By families

Agamas (Agamidae)
Makassar salfin lizard is usually regarded as the largest representative of family Agamidae, reaching a length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft).[21]

Glass lizards (Anguidae)
Sheltopusik from Southern Europe to Central Asia, is the largest legless lizard, reaching a length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft)
  • Many representatives of this family are legless lizards. Among these the largest species, and also the largest legless lizard in the world, is the sheltopusik (Pseudopus apodus), reaching a maximum length of more 135 cm (4.43 ft) and a mass in 1.1 kg (2.4 lb).[32]
  • The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) and slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) may reach lengths of up to 108 cm (42.5 in)[33] and 107 cm (42 in)[34] respectively.
  • However, this family also has lizards with legs, among which the largest is the Texas alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis) growing to from 45.7 cm (18 in) till 64 cm (25.2 in)[35][36] in different sources.

Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae)
Parson's chameleon about the size of a cat and the largest among chameleons by weight
  • Of all chameleons, the largest is the Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii), reaching a length of 68 cm (27 in).[37][38] But the longest species is the Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti). It has a length of up to 68.5 cm (27 in).[39]
  • Other large chameleons are the veiled chameleon (Chameleo calyptratus) and Meller's chameleon (Trioceros melleri), with lengths of up to 61 cm (24 in)[40][41] Exceptionally large specimens of the latter have reputedly reached over 76 cm (30 in) and mass 600 g (1.3 lb), although this is unlikely.[42]

Spinytail lizards (Cordylidae)
  • Many species in this family are small lizards, not exceeding 9–11 cm (3.54-4.33 in) snout-vent length. There are large species in the genus Smaug, the largest of which is a giant girdled lizard (Smaug giganteus), with snout-vent length up to 20.5 cm (8.07 in) and total length up to roughly 40 cm (15.74 in).

Casquehead lizards (Corytophanidae)
Basilisks are quite large lizards, especially the plumed basilisk
  • Casquehead lizards are quite large lizards. In particular, the genus Basiliscus typically measures 70–75 cm (28–30 in). But the largest species in this group is the plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), frequently growing to 91 cm (36 in).[43][44]
  • Another large species in this group is the eastern casquehead iguana (Laemanctus longipes) reaching up to 70 cm (27.6 in) including its long, thin tail.

Collared lizards (Crotaphytidae)
  • In this family it is not known exactly which species is the largest, but according to current data the largest is the reticulated collared lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus) with length up to 41 cm (16 in) and mass 78.77 g (2.8 oz).[45]

Anoles (Dactyloidae)
The knight anole is the largest anole, over half a meter in length

Geckos (Gekkota)
The New Caledonian giant gecko is the largest gecko, weighing up to almost 300 g (10.5 oz)

Plated lizards (Gerrhosauridae)
The largest species in the family Gerrhosauridae is the giant plated lizard, reaching almost 70 cm (27.5 in)
  • The largest species in this family is the giant plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus validus, with a total length of up to 69 cm (27 in)[71] or even 75 cm (29.5 in), with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 28 cm (11 in). Another large plated lizard is the Sudan plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus major), with a length of about 55 cm (24 in).

Beaded lizards and Gila monster (Helodermatidae)
The Mexican beaded lizard is the largest species in family Helodermatidae, reaching a length of up to 91 cm (36 in)
  • This family includes large and stocky lizards, including the infamous Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), which reaches a total length up to 60 cm (23.6 ) with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 36 cm (14.1 )[4] and a body mass from 1 (2.2 Ib)[4] to 2.2 kg (4.85 Ib) depending on the source. But despite the stocky and massive body of this lizard, it is not the largest representative of the family. Greatly exceeding it in size are the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) and Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (Heloderma exasperatum), with a total length of up to 91 cm (36 in), a SVL of up to 47 cm (18.5 )[4] and a mass from 2 (4.4 Ib)[4] to 4 kg (8.8 Ib)[72][73] depending on the source.

Iguanas (Iguanidae)
The blue iguana is the heaviest iguanid and one of the largest extant lizards
  • Iguanas are very large lizards, some of which can reach lengths of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and mass more than 10 kg (22.05 Ib). They are the largest lizards after some large species of monitor lizards, and the largest lizards in the New World. Iguanas vary considerably in size and form, but even the smallest lizards in this family are still quite large. For example, the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) can reach a length of up to 61 cm (24 in).[74] The largest species of the genus Sauromalus is the San Esteban chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius), up to 76 cm (27 in) long and 1.4 kg (3 Ib) in weight,[75] while the second-largest is the Angel Island chuckwalla (Sauromalus hispidus), up to 64 cm (25.2 in) long.[75]
  • Many sources describe the green iguana (Iguana iguana) as the largest iguanid, often reaching lengths up to 1.5 metres (4.91 ft) and masses of 4 kg (8.8 Ib),[76] and with a maximum length of 2 m (6.6 ft) and a mass of 8 kg (17.6 Ib) and in some cases even 9.1 kg (20 Ib). However, the heaviest species in this family is the blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi), with a total length of up to 1.5 m (4.91 ft), a SVL of 51–76 cm (30 in) and a mass of up to 14 kg (30.87 Ib)[11][12] It is the eighth-heaviest and largest extant lizard.[13]
The Galapagos land iguana is a very massive lizard weighing more than 10 kg and is one of the largest extant lizards

True lizards (Lacertidae)
Gran Canaria giant lizard is the largest memeber of a family Lacertidae, exceeding a length of 80 cm (31 in)
  • This family includes 300 diverse species. Among the largest is Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini), reaching a length of 80 cm (31 in), with a SVL of 26.5 m (87 ft) and a mass of almost 1.7 kg (3.7 lb)[87] A subspecies the same genus - El Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi machadoi), perhaps also is are one of the largest lacertid, and able reach a length of 60 cm (24 in). A Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti) have a total length in 44 cm (17 in) and a SVL of 14.5 cm (5.7 in). Another large lizard in this genus are La Gomera giant lizard (Gallotia brovoana), reaching a length of almost 50 cm (20 in) and a SVL in 19 cm (7.5 in)[88]
  • The longest member of this family is ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus), having a length of 90 cm (35 in),[89] with a SVL 26 cm (10 in)[90] and a mass 0.5 kg (1.1 lb)[91] A representative the same genus, the Moroccan eyed lizard (Timon tangitanus) can have a length of 70 cm (28 in), and is are one of the longest members of the this family.
  • The European green lizard (Lacerta viridis), Iberian emerald lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) and western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) can exceed a length 40 cm (16 in)[92][93] and more, and with a SVL at least 13 cm (5.1 in).[94] The largest species in this group is are Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata), reaching a length of 50 cm (20 in), and a SVL of 16 cm (6.3 in)[95]

See also

References
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