Liolaemidae

Liolaemus nitidus

The Liolaemidae are a family of iguana -like ( Iguania ). They come in South America from the Andes of Peru and Bolivia over Chile prior to Tierra del Fuego. There are three genera Ctenoblepharys which is monotypic, Liolaemus with 207 species and Phymaturus with 28 described species.

Only 60 of the Liolaemus species live in Chile, Liolaemus magellanicus occurs Tierra del Fuego and is the southern-most common lizard in the world. Liolaemus species occur in each habitat of southern South America and dominate in many places the lizard fauna. Some species also colonize very high altitudes. Liolaemus lutzae lives in a 200 km long and 50 to 100 meters wide strip directly on the sea coast near Rio de Janeiro and is endangered. Those living in mountainous regions at high altitudes, multiply viviparous, the others lay eggs.

The Phymaturus species are sturdily built lizards that resemble the North American Chuckwallas in their outward appearance. They have flattened bodies, territorial, feeding herbivores and are viviparous. The genus can be divided into two clades, one containing living mainly in the northern distribution of the genus species living at higher elevations (up to 4800 meters ) and a clade Patagonian species that occur only below 2000 meters.

The family was previously counted as a family to the Tropiduridae 2001 and raised to the rank of a family.

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