Iguana

Iguanas

Green iguana (Iguana iguana)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Iguanidae

Genera

Amblyrhynchus
Brachylophus
Conolophus
Ctenosaura
Cyclura
Dipsosaurus
Iguana
Sauromalus

Iguanidae is a family of lizards composed of iguanas and related species, including the green iguana commonly kept as a pet.

Classification of iguanidae

Two different classification schemes have been used to define the structure of this family. These are the "traditional" classification and the classification presented by Frost et al. (1989).

Frost et al. redefined this family. The genera belonging to the different subfamilies were assigned to separate families. This view is not generally accepted and the 'traditional' classification is still widely used.

Traditional classification

Family Iguanidae

Subfamily Corytophaninae: casquehead lizards
Subfamily Crotaphytinae: collared and leopard lizards
Subfamily Hoplocercinae: wood lizards, clubtails
Subfamily Iguaninae: green iguanas and spinytail iguanas
Subfamily Leiocephalinae
Subfamily Leiosaurinae
Subfamily Liolaeminae
Subfamily Oplurinae: Madagascar iguanids
Subfamily Phrynosomatinae: ear-less, spiny, tree, side-blotched and horned lizards
Subfamily Polychrotinae: anoles
Subfamily Tropidurinae: neotropical ground lizards

Frost et al classification of iguanas

Family Iguanidae

Genus Amblyrhynchus
Genus Brachylophus
Genus Conolophus
Genus Ctenosaura
Genus Cyclura
Genus Dipsosaurus
Genus Iguana
Genus Sauromalus
Genus Armandisaurus (extinct)
Genus Lapitiguana (extinct)
Genus Pumila (extinct)

Iguana sp.
Lesser Antillean Iguana, Dominica, W.I..
6010 aquaimages.jpg

Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Islands.
6039 aquaimages.jpg

Land Iguana, Galapagos Islands.
Divingiguana.jpg

Iguana found in the Florida Keys, diving into the sea.
Iguana iguana 2 AB.jpg

A green iguana.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Frost, D.R. and R.E. Etheridge. 1989. A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History. ISBN 0893380334.
Frost, D.R., R. Etheridge, D. Janies and T.A. Titus. 2001. Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates. 3343:38.

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