Items14The creator’s order
  1. 1Plumed basiliskPlumed basiliskA plumed basilisk can sprint upright over water for a short distance. Its spreading toes press down and back against the surface. The trick depends on keeping up that run, one fast footfall after another.0
  2. 2Draco dussumieriDraco dussumieriBetween trees, this flying lizard spreads skin held out by long ribs. Its front feet reach back to hold the leading edge of that membrane during the glide, then let go to grip the landing tree. The yellow flap visible in this photo is a throat fan used for display.0
  3. 3Tokay geckoTokay geckoA tokay gecko can cling to a smooth vertical surface on broad toe pads. The pads have an array of tiny hairs that make close contact with the surface. The way the gecko angles its toes lets it stick and release quickly with each step.0
  4. 4Thorny devilThorny devilNarrow channels between the thorny devil’s scales carry water toward its mouth. In experiments, the lizard drew water into those channels while standing in a puddle, then drank it by moving its jaws. The spines catch your eye first, but the spaces between the scales have a use of their own.0
  5. 5Texas horned lizardTexas horned lizardA crown of spines and a flattened body are clues to a Texas horned lizard. It feeds heavily on harvester ants. High-speed footage shows it using its tongue to seize an ant and pull it into the mouth, where mucus can help immobilize the prey.0
  6. 6Veiled chameleonVeiled chameleonA tall casque rises from the veiled chameleon’s head. Each eye can scan on its own, and the two can then fix on the same prey. A long tongue shoots out to catch insects while the lizard keeps its grip on the branch.0
  7. 7Komodo dragonKomodo dragonA Komodo dragon’s forked tongue samples chemicals from the air and carries them to a sensory organ in the roof of the mouth. That lets the lizard follow a food scent even when it cannot see the source.0
  8. 8Gila monsterGila monsterOrange and black beads across the back make this lizard easy to recognize. The thick tail is a reserve of stored fat. This helps it get through stretches when it spends most of its time sheltered and feeds infrequently.0
  9. 9Armadillo girdled lizardArmadillo girdled lizardWhen threatened, this South African lizard can bite its own tail and curl into a ring. Its spiny outside stays exposed while its softer underside faces in. Its normal shelter is a narrow rock crevice.0
  10. 10SheltopusikSheltopusikThis long, legless lizard is easy to mistake for a snake. Look for the opening of an external ear behind the eye and the movable eyelids. The longitudinal fold along its flank is another useful clue.0