List of largest extinct lizards

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List of largest extinct lizards which are members of the order Squamata.

List

More information Rank, Scientific name ...
RankScientific nameFamilyLargest specimenLengthMassImage
1 Tylosaurus prorigerMosasauridae"FHSM VP-2496"14 m (46 ft)[1]-
2 Tylosaurus bernardiMosasauridae14 m (46 ft)-
Tylosaurus prorigerMosasauridaeFHSM VP-249614 meters (46 ft)[2]
3 Mosasaurus hoffmaniMosasauridae"12.9 m (42 ft)[3]-
4 Tylosaurus pembiensisMosasauridae"Bruce"12.2 m (40 ft)[citation needed][4][citation needed]
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Geckos (Gekkota)

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Kawekaweau is the largest among of all known geckos

Iguanas (Iguanidae)

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The Lapitiguana is the largest iguana fossils
  • The extant members of genus Brachylophus are iguanas small and medium-sized, growing a length of 60–75 cm (24–30 in). Although, in the past there was a much larger member of this family – Brachylophus gibbonsi, reached in length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft),[citation needed] and thus, was 1.8 times longer than its modern relatives. Another very large extinct iguanid, reached even larger – Lapitiguana impensa which had a length of 1.5 m (4.91 ft).[8]

True lizards (Lacertidae)

Marine lizards (Mosasauridae)

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Mosasaurs were not only the largest lizards, but also the largest representatives of the Squamata order, as well as one of the biggest marine reptiles

Skinks (Scincidae)

  • The Cape Verde giant skink (Chioninia coctei) was a very large skink[11] that grew up to a snout-vent length of 32 cm (13 in)[12] and 56.5 cm (22.2 in) in a total length.[13]
  • Another very large extinct skink is the Mauritian giant skink (Leiolopisma mauritiana) which is the largest skink so far discovered; it grew to a snout-vent length of 34 cm (13 in)[14] with a total length of 68 cm (27 in), and according to some information up to 80 cm (31 in)[15]

Monitor lizards (Varanidae)

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The largest land lizard ever lived was extinct megalania from Australia
  • The prehistoric Australian megalania (Varanus priscus), which may have existed up to 40,000 years ago, is the largest varanid and the largest terrestrial lizard known to exist, but the lack of a complete skeleton has resulted in a wide range of size estimates. Molnar's 2004 assessment resulted in an average weight of 320 kg (710 lb) and length of 4.5 m (15 ft), and a maximum of 1,940 kg (4,280 lb) at 7 m (23 ft) in length, which is toward the high end of the early estimates.[16] However, a 2009 study estimated megalania at 5.5 m (18 ft) and 575 kg (1,268 lb).[17]
  • Ever species fossil Saniwa measured 1.3 to 2.1 m (4.3 to 6.9 ft).[18][19]
  • Palaeosaniwa was roughly comparable to a large monitor lizard (Varanidae) in size. Measuring around 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) in length,[20][21] it is among the largest terrestrial lizards known from the Mesozoic era. Later study shows estimation with snout–vent length about 85 centimetres (33 in) for Maastrichtian species.[22] Asprosaurus may compete with Palaeosaniwa in size.[23] Another large Mesozoic varanoid lizard was Chianghsia with snout-vent length of over 1 m (3 ft 3 in).[24]

See also

References

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