World Lizard Day 2021
August 14
World Lizard Day, celebrated on 14th August every year. As with most of the oddities, the origins of this day are unclear, but it is being celebrated across political boundaries by the niche of reptile-lovers, conservationists and educators.
My Story
Most celebrations of this holiday occur at the local level, through events organized by schools, natural history or science museums, zoos, national parks, conservation NGOs etc. These can vary depending on the audience involved, but information sessions and fun activities usually remain a constant. Local pet stores may hold events for kids, to acquaint them with the pros and cons of keeping a lizard as a pet. Online communities also take this opportunity to pay homage to the cold-blooded reptiles, and increase the information flow around them. World Lizard Day has not yet been taken up for serious conservation work by international agencies or organizations like the IUCN or WWF, and is focused on creating awareness of the reptiles, apparently mostly as pets.
Lizards are cold-blooded reptiles that live around the world in many different habitats, from the urban sprawl to the Amazonian rainforest. Different species feed differently, and there are insectivorous, omnivorous as well as carnivorous species. Many species are rare and difficult to study, leading to a paucity of scientific research around their biology and habits. It is common knowledge that lizards are able to drop their tails if caught by them, and run away completely unharmed. Their tails do grow back usually, but not as smoothly as the originals. An interesting and more obscure fact is that horned lizards can squirt blood from their eyes to confuse and foil predators and protect themselves.
There are over 5600 species of lizards alive today, and many of them are endangered species, with habitat loss and predation by non-native species like cats and dogs being the primary threats. There are some venomous species, like the largest true lizard, the Komodo Dragon, and the famous Gila Monster. Most common species, including those kept as pets, usually do not venom potent enough to harm humans. Keeping of exotic pets like lizards is a slightly controversial issue, but it does keep interest in these wonderful creatures alive, and as long as they remain in the public eye, conservation efforts can remain hopeful.
World Lizard Day thus provides the opportunity for a fun celebration of a reptilian fascination, and a chance to teach our kids about the world around us. Most of all, World Lizard Day seems geared towards helping those who enjoy reptiles to celebrate them, and those who don't to learn about them.
Lizard is the household measure in controlling pests as they act as natural pest control for the wandering insects in the houses.
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, found across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. Lizards are cold-blooded animals, they use the heat of the sun to raise their body temperatures. The sun also helps lizards produce vitamin D. Their days are spent sun-bathing on rocks or hunting for food.
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The basic classification of lizards is:
Kingdom: Animalia.
Subkingdom: Bilateria.
Phylum: Chordata.
Subphylum: Vertebrata.
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata.
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Anatomy
The skin of lizards is coated in overlapping scales that are formed of keratin. It offers shelter from the external environment and decreases water loss by evaporation. In dry deserts one such adaptation allows lizards to survive. The skin is hard and leathery and, as the animal grows it tends to shed. A few lizards possess prehensile tails that help them climb through the vegetation.
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Senses
Lizards, like many other vertebrates, allow utilization of their senses of sight, touch, smell, and hearing. Acute vision, and olfactory senses are present in monitor lizards. Lizards do not have external ears and instead have a circular opening that could be seen in the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
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Diet
Most lizards are insectivores, this means they only eat small insects and invertebrates. They hunt flies, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, ants, and other small insects. In the wild, lizards are low on the food chain and are vulnerable to predators.
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Lifespan
Lifespan of lizards range from 3-50 years. However it is not possible for them to live more than 3 years on their own. Their lifespan increases drastically if the lizard is in captivity. Since there are over 6000 species of lizard, each one of them have different lifespan.
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Below mentioned are some of the lizard facts:
1)Up to 60% of their body fat can be retained in their tail by certain lizard species.
2)The sand lizard "dances" by raising its legs up rapidly, one at a time, or by resting its belly on the sand and lifting all four legs at once, to shield its feet from the hot sand.
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Some Lizards found in India are as follows:
1) Oriental Garden Lizard - found everywhere in india.
2) Bengal Monitor Lizard - Indian Subcontinent.
3) Water Monitor Lizard - Sunderban National Park.
4) Indian Skink - Indian Subcontinent.
5) Spiny tailed Lizard - Found in Thar desert and some districts in Rajasthan.
6) Large scaled forest Lizard - Western Ghats.
7) Southern Flying Lizard - Western Ghat of Southern India.
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https://www.vedantu.com/animal/lizard
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Pic Credits: Rakesh Modala
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- Gargi Shankar Adhav.
FY B.Sc Forestry.
Team YFN INDIA.