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Squamata - Snakes and lizards

Etymology: 'Scaled-ones'
Notes: Traditionally, Squamata has been divided into snakes (Serpentes or Ophidia) and lizards (Sauria or Lacertilia). This grouping suggests that snakes and lizards diverged from a common ancestor at some stage. Our current understanding is that snakes evolved from early goannas about 150 million years ago. As such, snakes should be positioned as a sub-group within Varanidae. AROD uses the traditional grouping, as that is the one with which most people are familiar.
 
Family name Common name Australian genera Australian species
File snakes Acrochordidae 1 2
Colubrid snakes Colubridae 5 7
Elapid snakes Elapidae 26 107
Mud snakes Homalopsidae 4 5
True sea snakes Hydrophiidae 12 29
Sea kraits Laticaudidae 1 2
Pythons Pythonidae 5 14
Blind snakes Typhlopidae 3 48
Snake subtotal: 57 214
Dragons Agamidae 17 92
Geckos Gekkonidae 24 194
Legless lizards Pygopodidae 8 44
Skinks Scincidae 48 459
Monitors Varanidae 1 30
Lizard subtotal: 98 819
Total: 155 1033
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