In this April 2006 photo released by the National Museum of the Philippines, a golden-spotted monitor lizard rests on a tree trunk in the Sierra Madre mountains, in the Philippines. Scientists said in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters of April 7 that they have discovered a 6.5-foot long golden-spotted monitor lizard, named Varanus bitatawa, in the forested mountains of the Philippines. They have determined it to be a new species.
A gecko lizard crawls down a plant inside the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. A number of lizards have been released inside the historic conservatory and will be used to control plant-eating roaches by natural means.
An iguana amongst foliage at a zoo in Singapore. Iguanas, native to Central and South America, have excellent vision and can communicate with each other through visual signals.
A mossy leaf-tailed gecko sits camouflaged on a tree in Andasibe National Park in Madagascar. Like chameleons, these geckos can change the color of their skin to match their surroundings.
An Antongil leaf chameleon native to Madagascar (Brookesia peyierasi), is seen perched on a thumb.
An Iguana eats a flower on Isla Plaza in Ecuador.
A panther chameleon climbs along a branch in Madagascar. These lizards can grow up to 20 inches in length and may change color based on mood and light. These territorial creatures lead solitary existences, but have been kept as pets.
A green gecko clings to a wall on Denis Island in the Seychelles, east of Africa.
An iguana poses for visitors at the Washington-Slagbaai National Park on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire.
A Komodo dragon is seen in Sydney, Australia. The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard species, growing up to almost 10 feet in length. The lizard's 'venom' is actually toxic bacteria cultivated by a diet of mostly carrion.
A baby crested basilisk lizard sits high on the thumb of an animal keeper at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. This tiny but lightning-fast creature that can grow to a length of about 16 inches is a resident of Central America where they are known to the locals as Jesus Lizards for their ability to walk on water.
One of five newly hatched Komodo dragons emerges from its egg at Chester Zoo, England, in January 2007. Flora, the Komodo dragon, who is a resident at the zoo, was the subject of a ground-breaking scientific paper proving that the world's largest lizard species can reproduce through self-fertilization, after laying a clutch of 11 fertile eggs despite never having been mated with a male.
A frill-necked lizard is seen in Australia. To discourage predators and during courtship, the lizard will open its orange-lined mouth and open a large ruff of skin surrounding its head.
A golden-headed gecko walks over moss in Panama.
A giant day gecko is seen on a tree in a dry western forest in Madagascar.
Named for the Doors baritone, B. Morrisoni was one of the largest lizards that ever walked the Earth.
An extinct plant-eating reptile that roamed the steamy forests of Southeast Asia some 40 million years ago has been named for Doors frontman Jim Morrison.
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