Currently there are about 40 extant families of Lacertilia. These vary considerably, e.g. in shades, colours, and sizes. For example, the largest representative among Geckos, the New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus), has a length of up to 36 cm (14 in), while the largest species in the family Varanidae, Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has a length up to 3 metres (10 ft), and a body mass of 70 kg (154 lbs).
Largest extant lizards Here are the 15 largest extant lizards based on the most reliable measurements for size, including length and weight. These include family types Varanidae, Iguanidae and Teiidae exceeding 9 kg (20 lbs) in mass. Rank Common name Binomial name FamilyMaximum reliable or known masskg (lb)Maximum total lengthm (ft)Endemic Image 1 Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis Varanidae 166 (366) in captivity81.5 (180) caught in the wild, excluding stomach contents Probably 100 (220) including stomach contents (see below) 3.13 (10.27) in captivity3.04 (9.97) caught in the wild (see below) Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Dasami, and Gili Motang 2 Asian water monitorVaranus salvator Varanidae 25 (55) (see below) 3.21 (10.53) (see below) South and Southeast Asia 3 Crocodile monitorVaranus salvadorii Varanidae 20 (44.1) (see below) 2.55 (8.37) longest verified specimen, but unverified considerable larger (see below) New Guinea 4 Nile monitor Varanus niloticus Varanidae 20 (44.1) according to many sources (see below) 2.43 (8.0) the longest specimen (see below)Sub-Saharan Africa 5 Perentie Varanus giganteus Varanidae 20 (44.1) according to many sources (see below) 2.44 (8.0) the longest specimen (see below) Australia 6 Black-throated monitorVaranus albigularis microsticus Varanidae 27 (60) 2.1 (6.89) Tanzania 7 Lace monitor Varanus varius Varanidae 14 (30.87) more reliable (see below) 2.0 (6.55) (see below) Eastern Australia 8 Blue iguanaCyclura lewisi Iguanidae 14 (30.87) 1.5 (4.91) Grand Cayman 9 Galapagos land iguanaConolophus subcristatus Iguanidae 13 (28.66) 1.5 (4.91) Galápagos Islands 10 Marine iguanaAmblyrhynchus cristatus Iguanidae 12 (26.46) 1.4 (4.59) Galápagos Islands 11 Rhinoceros iguanaCyclura cornuta Iguanidae 10 (22.05) 1.22 (4.0).Probably 1.36 (4.46) Island of Hispaniola 12 Green iguanaIguana iguana Iguanidae 9.1 (20)De Vosjoli, Phillipe; Susan Donoghue, Roger Klingenberg, David Blair (2003), The Green Iguana Manual, Advanced Vivarium Systems, ISBN 978-1-882770-67-0 2.0 (6.55) Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico 13 Northern Sierra Madre forest monitorVaranus bitatawa Varanidae 9 (19.84) 1.8 (5.84) Philippines 14 Red tegu Salvator rufescens Teiidae 9 (19.84) 1.4 (4.59) Western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay 15 Gray's monitorVaranus olivaceus Varanidae 8.9 (19.62) 1.88 (6.16)Southern Luzon, Catanduanes, and Polillo Island in Philippines
By families Agamas (Agamidae)
The largest representatives in this group are species in the genus Hydrosaurus, which often exceed 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length. The largest species – Makassar sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus microlophus) and Sulawesi black sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus celebensis) grow to a length of 1.2 (3.9 ft) and 1.13 m (3.7 ft) respectively. Weber's sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus weberi), Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) and Amboina sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus amboinensis) (previously counts the largest species in this group) have a length of 1 m (3.3 ft). The Australian water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) and Chinese water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) can also exceed this length. The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) has length up to 85 cm (2.79 ft) and mass up to 870 g (1.92 lb), probably even 900 g (2 lb)Hauschild, Bosch (1997), pp. 69. Uromastyx aegyptia is one of heaviest representatives among agamas, with length up to 76 cm (30 in) and mass 2 kg (4.4 lbs).. Edited by Tomas M. Wilms, Philipp Wagner, Mohammed Shobrack, Nicola Lutzmann & Wolfgang BöHME A central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) and eastern bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) have a length of , and are the largest in their genus.
American legless lizards (Anniellidae)
The largest American legless lizard is the Californian legless lizard (Anniella pulchra) attaining long.
Glass lizards (Anguidae)
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 . The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) and slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) may reach lengths of up to and 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) in different sources.
Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae)
Of all chameleons, the largest is the Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii), reaching a length of 68 cm (27 in). But the longest species is the Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti). It has a length of up to 68.5 cm (27 in). Other large chameleons are the veiled chameleon (Chameleo calyptratus) and Meller's chameleon (Trioceros melleri), with lengths of up to 61 cm (24 in) 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.
Spinytail lizards (Cordylidae)
Many species in this family are small to medium-sized lizards that range in length from 6 to 30 cm (2.4 to 11.8 inches). 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)
Casquehead lizards are quite large lizards. In particular, the genus Basiliscus typically measures 70–75 cm (28–30 in).Bustamante-Enríquez LM, Arteaga AF (2012). Western Basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Mindo. Version 2012.a But the largest species in this group is the plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), frequently growing to 91 cm (36 in). 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).
Anoles (Dactyloidae)
Large species in this group are usually crown giant anolis ecomorphs The species generally considered the largest is the knight anole (Anolis equestris), which can reach up to 51 cm (20 in) in total length, 19 cm (7.5 in) in snout-vent length and weigh 137 g (4.83 oz).Kirsten E. Nicholson and Paul M. Richards (2011). Home-range size and overlap within an introduced population of the Cuban knight anole, Anolis equestris (Squamata: Iguanidae) Phyllomedusa, 10 (1), 65–73 However, in the equester species complex there are also species reaching the same length and even larger. These include A. baracoae, A. luteogularis, A. noblei and A. smallwoodi.
Geckos (Gekkota)
Species of geckos belong to different groups. For example, many species of geckos are in family Gekkonidae, but there are very large species in the family Diplodactylidae. For example, to them belongs the largest gecko species New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus), which can be 36–43.18 cm (14–17 in) long and mass 212–279 g (7.5–9.8 oz) Other representatives of the same genus as the aforementioned gecko can also reach huge sizes. These include gargoyle gecko (Rhacodactylus auriculatus), greater rough-snouted giant gecko (R. trachyrhynchus) and lesser rough-snouted giant gecko (R. trachycephalus). As well as former species in this genus: crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), Sarasins' giant gecko (C. sarasinorum) and Bavay's giant gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua). An extant member of the genus Hoplodactylus, Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii), in which be present a largest gecko ever lived (see the largest extinct lizards) can also reach large sizes. It can reach total length 30 cm (12 in) with a snout-vent length (SVL) up to 16 cm (6.3 in), and weigh up to 120 grams (4.2 oz). There are also large species in the family Gekkonidae. These include tokay gecko (Gekko gekko), Smith's green-eyed gecko (G. smithii) and Andaman giant gecko (G. verreauxi), which can reach and even exceed 30 cm (12 in). Another genus with large geckos is Uroplatus. The largest representative in this genus is the giant leaf-tail gecko (Uroplatus giganteus), which can reach a snout–vent length of 20 cm and a total length of 32.2 cm. Another species that grows almost as large is the common flat-tail gecko (U. fimbriatus), which can exceed 30 cm (12 in) and more. The genus Phelsuma in subfamily Uroplatinae also has large species. Standing's day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) is one of the largest day geckos, reaching a length of about and Round Island day gecko (P. guentheri), Madagascar giant day gecko (P. grandis) and P. madagascariensis can reach even more impressive lengths of 30 cm (12 in) or more.Glaw F, Vences M (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third edition. Outside of the families Diplodactylidae and Gekkonidae, there are large geckoes among the Eublepharidae. The African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) reaches a length of up to 23 cm (9.1 in), and a mass of . The leopard gecko (Euplepharis macularis) reaches even large sizes – up to 28 cm (11 in) long with a mass of 60–80 g (2.1–2.84 oz). The largest species of family Phyllodactylidae, the giant wall gecko (Tarentola gigas), reaches in length and in SVL.
Plated lizards (Gerrhosauridae)
The largest species in this family is the giant plated lizard (Matobosaurus validus), with a total length of up to 69 cm (27 in) 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 (Broadleysaurus major), with a length of about 51–60 cm (20–24 in).
Beaded lizards and Gila monster (Helodermatidae)
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 in) with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 36 cm (14.1 in) and a body mass from to 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 in) and a mass from to Beck, D. D. (2005). Biology of Gila monsters and beaded lizards (Vol. 9). Univ of California Press.Grzimek, Dr. H.C. Bernhard. 1975. Animal Life Encyclopedia. Volume 6 Pgs. 321–322 and 151–152. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. depending on the source.
Iguanas (Iguanidae)
Iguanas are very large lizards, some of which can reach lengths of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and mass more than . 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). The largest species of the genus Sauromalus is the San Esteban chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius), up to 76 cm (27 in) long and in weight, while the second-largest is the Angel Island chuckwalla (S. hispidus), up to 64 cm (25.2 in) long.