Can You Identify These Lizard Species?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Identify These Lizard Species?
Image: Fuse / Corbis / Getty Images

About This Quiz

It's mind-blowing to think that there are species of lizards on Earth right now, just basking in the sun on a rock somewhere, that have barely changed at all in millions of years.

Lizards are just a hearty group of little beasts that seem to be able to endure a lot and keep on keeping on. They're also incredibly cool. From the tiniest little gecko you can keep as a pet in a tank in your house where it might eat a cricket a day, to the massive and terrifying Komodo dragon which can take down man-sized prey, there's a wicked diversity in the world of lizards. 

It's hard not to be fascinated by these throwbacks to prehistoric times. They're like a living reminder of a history we can never truly know, of what the world might have looked like long before humans ever showed up. That's a pretty cool thing, and it deserves a little respect and recognition.

Speaking of recognition, now's your time to shine by showing us how many species of lizards you recognize. There are many of them in the world. Do you think you can pick out 40 of them? Let's find out!

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Cagan Hakki Sekercioglu / Moment / Getty Images
You can find this nefarious creature in Madagascar. What's it called?
Black and White Tegu
Crested Gecko
Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Veiled Chameleon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No animal has a more hardcore name than the satanic leaf-tailed gecko. It also doesn't really deserve the name since it's not particularly evil in any way. Luckily they also go by the names "eyelash leaf-tailed gecko" and "phantastic leaf-tailed gecko" so it's not all doom and gloom.

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Plumed Basilisk
KenCanning / E+ / Getty Images
This lizard can run across water for short distances. What is it?
Plumed Basilisk
Standing's Day Gecko
Chinese Water Dragon
Fire Skink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The plumed basilisk of Central America is a unique animal in appearance and behavior. The plume from the name is very noticeable and gives the lizard a dinosaur-like appearance. Using its tail to stay upright, it can run for a little while on the surface of the water if it falls, no worries because it's an excellent swimmer as well.

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Nile Monitor
Franz Aberham / Photodisc / Getty Images
This lizard can grow to be larger than a human. What is it?
Collared Lizard
Red Tegu
Knight Anole
Nile Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The largest Nile monitor on record managed to crack 8 feet, making these enormous lizards indeed. Adult males can be very aggressive, which, combined with their size, makes them dangerous to be around. They are native to Africa, but populations do exist in places like Florida now as well.

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Marine Iguana
Gfed / E+ / Getty Images
You can only find this lizard on the Galapagos Islands. What is it?
Gidgee Skink
Marine Iguana
Mangrove Monitor
Frilled Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Marine iguanas are unique among lizards thanks to the fact they are marine reptiles and the only lizard that forages in the sea. They eat algae in their native habitat, and no one has ever successfully bred or kept them away from the Galapagos Islands.

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Green Anole
Zen Rial / Moment / Getty Images
This lizard sometimes goes by the name "American chameleon." What's its more formal name?
Mali Uromastyx
Gold Tegu
Desert Iguana
Green Anole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The green anole is a very popular lizard to keep as a pet and is sometimes called an American chameleon because it can change from bright green to a somewhat muted brown color to blend into its surroundings.

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Veiled Chameleon
MarkBridger / Moment / Getty Images
In Hawaii, this lizard has become an invasive species. Do you know what it is?
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana
Veiled Chameleon
Cape Monitor
Frilled Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Veiled chameleons are popular lizards to keep in captivity since they're pretty easy to handle, relatively speaking. That has led to a number of them being released into the wild. This, in turn, has led to the population of invasive chameleons you can find in Hawaii right now.

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Red Tegu
Wiki Commons by Dick Culbert
Name this bulky lizard that can grow to 4 feet in length and makes an oddly good house pet.
Red Tegu
Desert Iguana
Centra American Banded Gecko
Argus Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Red tegus are very popular pets as far as lizards go because, if you have space and the ability to care for a massive lizard, they behave quite a bit like dogs. They'll follow their owners around the house, eat and drink from pet bowls and can even be clicker trained.

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Australian Water Dragon
Richard Sharrocks / Moment / Getty Images
Swimming and climbing are two of this lizard's strengths. Name it!
Prehensile-Tailed Skink
Bibron's Gecko
Australian Water Dragon
Ornate Uromastyx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Australian water dragons are, as the name suggests, very well adapted to the water. They can swim submerged and stay underneath the water for about an hour and a half if necessary. When fleeing from predators, if no water is available, they can also race up a tree and hide in the foliage pretty well.

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Bearded Dragon
simonkr / E+ / Getty Images
This Australian lizard is kept as a pet throughout the world. What is it?
Bearded Dragon
Common Tegu
Gargoyle Gecko
Northern Alligator Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bearded dragons are arguably the world's most popular species of lizard to keep as a pet. Compared to most other species, they're very easy to care for and also tend to be more active and whimsical than many species which are more inclined to sit around basking all day.

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Blue-Tongued Skink
Robin Bush / Photodisc / Getty Images
Because of its little legs, this lizard is pretty slow. What is it called?
Caiman Lizard
Green Water Dragon
Blue-Tongued Skink
Sailfin Dragon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blue-tongued skinks are native to Australia but are also reasonably popular as house pets. Because they have such thick bodies and tend to move slowly, they're easy to handle and are well adapted to being kept as pets. They also rarely show off that blue tongue, so getting bitten by one is often not an issue.

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Burton's Legless Lizard
Henry Cook / Moment Open / Getty Images
No, it's not a snake. What is it?
Spiny-Neck Monitor
Green Basilisk
Asian Water Monitor
Burton's Legless Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Burton's legless lizard is sometimes called a snake-lizard, but it's not a snake. It does have tiny, rudimentary hind legs, but they're little more than stumps. These lizards tend to feed on other lizards in the wild and, sometimes, snakes.

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Caiman Lizard
Tambako the Jaguar / Moment / Getty Images
This lizard is closely related to the tegu. Do you know it?
Caiman Lizard
Bibron's Gecko
Leopard Gecko
Gidgee Skink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Caiman lizards are water-loving lizards native to South America. They're good swimmers and tend to live in marshy or swampy areas. They also grow to be about 4 feet in length and eat almost nothing but snails.

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Chuckwalla
Buddy Mays / Corbis / Getty Images
This lizard is a desert-dwelling vegan. What is it called?
Chuckwalla
Knight Anole
Black Iguana
Southern Alligator Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chuckwallas are pretty chill lizards overall, sustaining themselves on a diet of plants and running for cover at any sign of danger. Their self-defense strategy involves wedging themselves in a crack between rocks and then inflating themselves with air so they can't be pulled out.

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Crested Gecko
Nancy Nehring / Moment Mobile / Getty Images
People thought this species was extinct until 1994. Name it!
Fat-Tailed Gecko
Crested Gecko
Panther Chameleon
Black Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Crested geckos were all but gone from the world in the 1990s and are now one of the most popular species to keep as house pets. They come in a wide variety of colors which has encouraged breeders to try to produce lines with specific colors and patterns that can sell for more money.

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Egyptian Uromastyx
Wiki Commons by Eitan f
Bedouins used to hunt this lizard for its leather. What is it?
Crocodile Monitor
Argus Lizard
Thorny Red Dragon
Egyptian Uromastyx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Egyptian uromastyx is obviously found throughout Egypt and other parts of North Africa and the Middle East. They were hunted for food and leather since they can grow to be a fairly substantial size and are not remarkably aggressive.

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Flying Gecko
up close with nature / Moment Open / Getty Images
This lizard's camouflage is so good, it's nearly impossible to see it in the wild. Name it!
Flying Gecko
Cape Monitor
Giant Water Dragon
Spear-Tailed Skink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flying geckos, like most flying animals that don't have wings, have adapted flaps of skin that allow them to glide between trees. Their flesh is highly camouflaged, and if they have their eyes closed, they become nearly indistinguishable from the trees in which they live.

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Fire Skink
Wiki Commons by Haplochromis
Burrowing is one of this lizard's skills. Do you know its name?
Savannah Monitor
Fire Skink
Day Gecko
Rough-Scaled Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fire skinks get their name from the vivid scale coloration on their bodies. They usually have a more gold or brown on their backs, but their bellies will be bright orange and red which makes them stand out in a crowd.

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Frilled Lizard
Natphotos / Photodisc / Getty Images
The original "Jurassic Park" featured a dinosaur inspired by this lizard. Do you know what it is?
Mourning Gecko
Moloch
Frilled Lizard
Red-Tailed Skink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Frilled lizards are some of the most easily recognizable lizards in the world thanks to that dramatic frill that pops up when they're challenged or frightened. The dilophosaurus from "Jurassic Park" is a frill, and word has it that demand for real frilled lizards increased after the movie.

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Galapagos Land Iguana
guenterguni / E+ / Getty Images
Darwin first described these lizards as "ugly." What are they?
Mexican Beaded Lizard
Rough Knob-Tailed Gecko
White-Throated Monitor
Galapagos Land Iguana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Galapagos land iguanas live across several of the Galapagos Islands but nowhere else in the world as they do not take to captivity at all. They're mostly herbivores, though some have been observed eating insects. They get most of the water in their diet from cactus pears.

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Gila Monster
ebettini / E+ / Getty Images
This is the only venomous lizard in the United States. Name it!
Gila Monster
Ornate Uromastyx
Banded Gecko
Silver Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While it's rare for a lizard to be venomous, the Gila monster's bite will inject venom into a victim, and it's incredibly painful. Despite that, some people still keep these lizards as pets because of their bright color pattern.

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Giant Hispaniola Galliwasp
Wiki Commons by Onagro
Some people believe this lizard is venomous, but it's not. Do you recognize it?
Beaded Lizard
Horned Monitor
Giant Hispaniola Galliwasp
Zephyr Gecko
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The giant Hispaniola galliwasp is native to the island of Hispaniola and can be found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. "Giant" is a relative term here since they only grow to be about 12 inches in length. A baby is shown here.

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Jackson's Chameleon
Bill Adams / Moment Open / Getty Images
This African lizard can now be found in Florida, Hawaii and California. What is it?
Jackson's Chameleon
Spiked Basilisk
Green Tegu
Archer's Gecko
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jackson's chameleon is one of the easiest to identify lizards in the world thanks to the three horns on its head that make it look like a little triceratops. Because they are so widely coveted as pets, a number of specimens have been let loose in non-native habitats, and populations are springing up across the United States.

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Gargoyle Gecko
DavidCallan / E+ / Getty Images
You can only find this lizard at the Southern tip of New Caledonia. What is it?
Hart's Dragon
Red-Crested Skink
Savannah Monitor
Gargoyle Gecko
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gargoyle geckos get their unusual name from the little bumps they have on their head. Those bumps resemble horns and sure, some other lizards actually have horns, but they still call these guys gargoyles because of it.

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Komodo Dragon
jokoleo / Moment / Getty Images
This is arguably the biggest, most dangerous lizard on Earth. What's it called?
River Monitor
Komodo Dragon
Fire-Bellied Dragon
Rock Iguana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No one on Earth would ever keep a Komodo dragon as a pet and for good reasons. These lizards reach lengths of up to 10 feet, and their toxic bites could very well kill a human if left untreated. The claws of a Komodo dragon can rip cages apart. Komodo dragons are fun to see at a zoo, but it's probably never a good idea to get close to one.

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Moloch
Posnov / Moment / Getty Images
Another name for this lizard is "thorny devil." What else is it called?
Moloch
Mountain Horned Dragon
Green Tegu
Argus Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Moloch is the name of a Canaanite god from the Bible who later became associated with demons, so this poor lizard has a bad reputation from the start. Its intimidating names likely come from the fact it's covered from head to toe in an array of very sharp-looking spikes that it uses for self-defense.

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Monkey-Tailed Skink
R. Andrew Odum / Photodisc / Getty Images
These herbivores are known to eat toxic plants with no problems. What are they?
Leopard Gecko
Asian Water Dragon
Monkey-Tailed Skink
Blue Anole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Monkey-tailed skinks live on the Solomon Islands and can grow to nearly 3 feet in length. Its name refers to the fact it has a prehensile tail that it can use when moving through the trees to help keep it balanced.

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Mountain Horned Dragon
Wiki Commons by Tom Oates
This lizard is sometimes called a pricklenape agama. What else is it called?
Mountain Horned Dragon
Jeweled Lacerta
Fat-Tailed Gecko
Gold-Dust Day Gecko
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both names for this lizard, pircklenape and mountain horned dragon, refer to the row of spikes that run down the lizard's back. The mountain part just refers to the fact they really like living in the mountains.

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Mexican Beaded Lizard
James Gerholdt / Stockbyte / Getty Images
A bite from this lizard will lead to a solid day of excruciating pain. What is it?
Green Anole
Feathered Uromastyx
Desert Monitor
Mexican Beaded Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Along with the Gila monster, the Mexican beaded lizard is the only other venomous lizard in North America. Bites are very rare and likely not fatal, but they will be very painful. Only eight bites have been reported in the last 100 years.

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Northern Alligator Lizard
Wiki Commons by Marshal Hedin
You can find this lizard along the Pacific Coast and up to the Rocky Mountains. What is it?
Northern Alligator Lizard
Red Tegu
Caiman Lizard
Mangrove Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Northern alligator lizard sounds a little more intimidating than it really is. At about 6 inches in length, they're much less fearsome than actual gators, but they get the name from their scales which make them resemble tiny alligators.

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Sungazer
suebg1 photography / Moment / Getty Images
People sometimes call this the "giant dragon lizard." What other name does it go by?
Gold Tegu
Sungazer
Lined Day Gecko
Brown Anole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sungazers live in Africa and grow to be about a foot long to the tip of the tail. Their association with dragons is pretty ingrained these days thanks to their spiky, horn-like scales and the fact scientists reclassified them in 2011 and added them to a brand new genus called Smaug, after the dragon in "The Hobbit."

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Texas Horned Lizard
Jeremy Woodhouse / Photodisc / Getty Images
This lizard will sometimes be called a frog or a toad, even though it's neither one. Name it!
Texas Horned Lizard
Argentine Tegu
Southern Alligator Lizard
Beaded Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Texas horned lizards live throughout the Southern U.S. and into Mexico. They're actually members of the iguana family and as cool as they look, they're extremely hard to keep as pets because their diet is monstrous. One of these little lizards can eat a few thousand ants per day, much more than the average pet owner can supply.

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Tokay Gecko
Photografica / Moment Open / Getty Images
They named this lizard after the sound it makes. What is it?
Shingleback Skink
Rhinoceros Iguana
Tokay Gecko
Argus Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tokay geckos are native to various parts of Asia and are known for their frog-like croak. Some people say it sounds like the gecko is saying "tokay" but it's also described as something like "geck geck" and "poo-kay." Soldiers in Vietnam also gave it a rather vulgar nickname that you can Google if you want.

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Tuatara
Steve Taylor Photography / Moment Open / Getty Images
In a very technical way, this little New Zealander isn't even a lizard. What do you call it?
Flying Gecko
Panther Chameleon
Mangrove Monitor
Tuatara
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tuataras look like lizards but evolved along a separate but similar path. They're a little more prehistoric than your average lizard and likely have been around for 200 million years or so. They also tolerate much colder weather than most lizards, and they are comfortable in temperatures in the mid-60s and even high 50s.

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Savannah Monitor
Jasius / Moment / Getty Images
These lizards are sometimes trapped for their leather. Do you know what they are called?
Savannah Monitor
Chuckwalla
Green Water Dragon
Gila Monster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Savannah monitors are native to Africa, though there is a relatively prominent illegal trade in the lizards. Animal rescues that deal with lizards often get them, since people who take them in as pets abandon them when they aren't prepared to care for the lizards once they reach 3 feet in length!

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Cuban Rock Iguana
manoa / Moment / Getty Images
This large lizard is remarkably tame and tends to make a decent pet if you have the time to care for it. What is it?
Fat-Tailed Gecko
Caiman Lizard
Cuban Rock Iguana
Sailfin Dragon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cuban rock iguanas are some of the largest iguanas in the world and as the name suggests, can be found on the rocky coasts of Cuba. A feral colony lives on Isla Magueyes near Puerto Rico. They were released from a zoo in 1950 and have thrived ever since.

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Eastern Fence Lizard
Wiki Commons by SchloughM
Some people call this a prairie lizard or a pine lizard. What else is it called?
Desert Iguana
Veiled Chameleon
Argentine Tegu
Eastern Fence Lizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Eastern fence lizard is found throughout the Eastern United States and gets its name from the fact that you can very often find them basking in the sun on top of fence posts. They're usually gray or brown, and that helps them blend into their surroundings, which is helpful when you're on top of a fence all day.

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Dumeril's Monitor
Wiki Commons by Katerina Zareva, EERC Sofia Zoo
This lizard eats mostly crab, but it may try some other fish or rodents in a pinch. Name it!
Gidgee Skink
Dumeril's Monitor
Sungazer
Water Monitor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dumeril's monitor can be found in Southeast Asia where it can grow to upwards of 4 feet in length. Generally speaking, you don't want to run afoul of one of these lizards, and keeping one as a pet can be tricky since they spend much of their time in aquatic environments.

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Frog-Eyed Gecko
Wiki Commons by Kvak
This desert lizard could live up to 20 years in captivity. What's it called?
Frog-Eyed Gecko
Crocodile Monitor
Knight Anole
Moloch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Frog-eyed geckos are sometimes called wonder geckos which is a must cooler sounding name, all things being equal. When attacked, the gecko will let loose a squeaking sound and may rear up on its hind legs and open its jaws in a display of intimidation.

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Jeweled Lacerta
Fabrizio Moglia / Moment Open / Getty Images
You can feed this little fellow bugs or smashed fruit. Do you know what it's called?
Jeweled Lacerta
Common Tegu
Fire Skink
Crested Gecko
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The jeweled lacerta, or ocellated lizard, is native to Europe and is typically not a fan of human interaction. They're fast little things and will be quick to run for cover if they sense danger. They can be kept in captivity but probably should be left to those who have a little more experience with lizards since they can be a bit difficult.

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Leopard Gecko
Tanya Little / Moment Open / Getty Images
This popular pet originally comes from around India. Do you recognize it?
Gold Tegu
Nile Monitor
Leopard Gecko
Jackson's Chameleon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular lizard pets in North America thanks to their unique appearance and the fact they're relatively easy to care for. Breeders have already begun breeding them for specific color and pattern characteristics which can bring in a lot of money if people are looking for a designer type of pet.

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Fuse / Corbis / Getty Images