List of largest extinct lizards

List of largest extinct lizards which are members of the order Squamata.

List

Rank	Scientific name	Family	Largest specimen	Length	Mass	Image
1	Tylosaurus proriger	Mosasauridae	"FHSM VP-2496"	14 m (46 ft) [1]	-
2	Tylosaurus bernardi	Mosasauridae		14 m (46 ft)	-
	Tylosaurus proriger	Mosasauridae	FHSM VP-2496	14 meters (46 ft) [2]
3	Mosasaurus hoffmani	Mosasauridae	"	12.9 m (42 ft) [3]	-
4	Tylosaurus pembiensis	Mosasauridae	"Bruce"	12.2 m (40 ft)[ citation needed ] [4]	[ citation needed ]

Geckos (Gekkota)

Kawekaweau is the largest among of all known geckos

• An extinct member of family Diplodactylidae, Kawekaweau or Delcourt's giant gecko (Hoplodactylus delcourti), the largest gecko of all time. It had a snout-vent length of 37 cm (14.6 in), a total length of 60 cm (23.6 in). ^[5] and a mass of 896.98 g (31.640 oz) ^[6] The modern representative of same genus is Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) also has a large sizes (see list of largest extant lizards).
• Some members of genus Phelsuma are one of the largest extant geckos (see list of largest extant lizards). Although, in the past, day geckos were even more larger. For example, the Rodrigues day gecko (Phelsuma edwardnewtoni) had total length up to 23 cm (9.1 in). The Rodrigues giant day gecko (Phelsuma gigas) was the largest day gecko and second-largest of all geckos (after the kawekaweau), with a length of up to 40 cm (15.74 in) and possibly even 44 cm (17.3 in),^{[ citation needed ]} and body mass 193.43 g (6.8 oz). ^[7]

Iguanas (Iguanidae)

The Lapitiguana is the largest iguana fossils

• The extant members of genus Brachylophus are iguanas small and medium-sized, growing a length of 60–75 cm (24–30 in). Although, in the past there was a much larger member of this family – Brachylophus gibbonsi , reached in length of 1.2 m (3.9 ft),^{[ citation needed ]} and thus, was 1.8 times longer than its modern relatives. Another very large extinct iguanid, reached even larger – Lapitiguana impensa which had a length of 1.5 m (4.91 ft). ^[8]

True lizards (Lacertidae)

• The largest ever lived lacertid, the goliath Tenefire lizard (Gallotia goliath) reached the length of 1.2–1.25 m (3.9–4.1 ft). ^[9]

Marine lizards (Mosasauridae)

Mosasaurs were not only the largest lizards, but also the largest representatives of the Squamata order, as well as one of the biggest marine reptiles

• The largest mosasaurs were Mosasaurus , and Tylosaurus , which grew to around 17 m (56 ft) and were projected to weigh up to 20 t (44,000 lb). ^[10]

Skinks (Scincidae)

• The Cape Verde giant skink ( Chioninia coctei ) was a very large skink ^[11] that grew up to a snout-vent length of 32 cm (13 in) ^[12] and 56.5 cm (22.2 in) in a total length. ^[13]
• Another very large extinct skink is the Mauritian giant skink (Leiolopisma mauritiana) which is the largest skink so far discovered; it grew to a snout-vent length of 34 cm (13 in) ^[14] with a total length of 68 cm (27 in), and according to some information up to 80 cm (31 in) ^[15]

Monitor lizards (Varanidae)

The largest land lizard ever lived was extinct megalania from Australia

• The prehistoric Australian megalania (Varanus priscus), which may have existed up to 40,000 years ago, is the largest varanid and the largest terrestrial lizard known to exist, but the lack of a complete skeleton has resulted in a wide range of size estimates. Molnar's 2004 assessment resulted in an average weight of 320 kg (710 lb) and length of 4.5 m (15 ft), and a maximum of 1,940 kg (4,280 lb) at 7 m (23 ft) in length, which is toward the high end of the early estimates. ^[16] However, a 2009 study estimated megalania at 5.5 m (18 ft) and 575 kg (1,268 lb). ^[17]
• Ever species fossil Saniwa measured 1.3 to 2.1 m (4.3 to 6.9 ft). ^{[18] [19]}
• Palaeosaniwa was roughly comparable to a large monitor lizard (Varanidae) in size. Measuring around 3–3.5 m (9.8–11.5 ft) in length, ^{[20] [21]} it is among the largest terrestrial lizards known from the Mesozoic era. Later study shows estimation with snout–vent length about 85 centimetres (33 in) for Maastrichtian species. ^[22] Asprosaurus may compete with Palaeosaniwa in size. ^[23] Another large Mesozoic varanoid lizard was Chianghsia with snout-vent length of over 1 m (3 ft 3 in). ^[24]

See also

• Largest prehistoric animals

References

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13. Luís M.P. Ceríaco (2012). "From Cape Verde to the Netherlands via Portugal and France: the journey of an early specimen of the giant skink Chioninia coctei (Duméril & Bibron, 1839)". Zoologia Caboverdiana: 74–81. ISSN   2074-5737.
14. James Evans (2021). Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family. Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-1-78240-957-1.
15. "Island Weirdness #26 – The Mauritian Giant Skink". Nixillustration.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
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21. "Palaeosaniwa" from James Gurney: The World of Dinosaurs
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