Behavior and Neurology of Lizards 
N. Greenberg and P. D. MacLean, eds. 
NIMH. 1978. 
Appendix; 
Taxonomy of Lizards 
Taxonomy involves the formulation and 
assignment of names to groups of animals. 
When named animals are classified, taxonomy 
grades into systematics, the science of de- 
scribing relationships between groups of ani- 
mals. Taxonomy and systematics are the 
bases on which meaningful conclusions may 
be drawn about the unity and the diversity 
of biological phenomena, and they are valu- 
able heuristic and didactic tools. Indeed, first 
approximations of the generalizability of 
observational or experimental studies are 
founded in taxonomy and systematics and 
take much of their impetus from hypotheses 
suggested by these sciences. For convenience, 
three “levels” of taxonomy are often dis- 
tinguished: “alpha taxonomy” (description 
and preliminary arrangement) ; “beta taxon- 
omy” (classification developed) ; and “gamma 
taxonomy” (attempts at causal interpreta- 
tions of diversity). 
An excellent brief guide to the literature 
of reptilian classification has been provided 
by Cans and Parsons (1970), and many of 
the methodological difficulties have been re- 
viewed and discussed by Mayr (1969). It is 
the intention of this list to contribute to a 
practical appreciation of the diversity within 
the taxon that includes lizards and to famil- 
iarize the student with unfamiliar species 
often discussed in specialized literature. This 
understanding is important, particularly now 
that the value of reptiles as research subjects 
is attracting the attention of researchers that 
may not be familiar with the herpetological 
literature. 
There is little agreement among herpetol- 
ogists on a “best” taxonomy. Using Bellairs’ 
(1970) criterion of convenience and utility. 
The taxonomy presented here is adapted from 
the Bellairs (1970) elaboration of Romer 
(1956) and is annotated with the guidance 
of Coin and Goin (1971), Porter (1972), 
Mertens (1960), Bellairs (1970), and 
Klemmer (ed., 1971). 
SYNOPSIS 
CLASS: Reptilia 
SUBCLASS: Anapsida 
ORDER: Chelonia (Testudinata) 
SUBCLASS: Lepidosauria 
ORDER: Rhyncocephalia 
ORDER: Squamata 
SUBORDER: Sauria (Lacertilia)* 
SUBORDER: Serpentes (Ophidia) 
SUBCLASS: Archosauria 
ORDER: Crocodilia 
*SUBORDER: Sauria (Lacertilia) 
The lizards; about 360 living genera and 
3000 species. 
INFRAORDER: Iguania 
Family Iguanidae (iguanids) 
A predominantly New World family of ac- 
tive, four-legged diurnal lizards, desert- 
living, arboreal or amphibious in habits. 
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