Those Leapin' Lizards! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Australia

The unusual frilled lizard is found in Australia, home of some of the worlds most unique animals. They spend most of their time in the trees, which are much safer than the ground around them. When they feel threatened, they open up a frill that surrounds their neck to make themselves to larger and more intimidating.

It then opens up its mouth as wide as it can and starts hissing at the threat. They are also known to stand on their back legs while engaging on this display.

Answer: The Jesus Christ lizard

The Basiliscus plumifrons is most commonly known as the Jesus Christ lizard. The name refers to the lizards ability to walk on water. They have long hind legs and long toes which helps them keep up enough speed to successfully accomplish this amazing feet for short distances. Once it slows down it sinks into the water, but is known for being an excellent swimmer.

This beautiful reptile is found Central America and comes in a variety of bright green colors.

Answer: It has a tail that will break off and shatter like glass.

Glass lizards have the unusual defensive tactic of allowing their tail to break off in a variety of sized pieces. The tail continues to move, while the lizard lies motionless. Predators start dining on the tail, oblivious to the lizard, which slinks quietly away.

It takes up to a year for the tail to grow back and it is usually never as large as the original. Most glass lizards have no legs at all and can grow up to four ft. long (1.3m).

Answer: They squirt blood from their eyes

These North American lizards are one of the most unique in the world of lizards. They are flattened and rather round in shape, instead of the long, sleek appearance of most other lizards. Some of them, when threatened, can actually shoot blood from their eyes for a distance of up to five ft. (1.5m).

Their populations have been declining, mostly due to habitat loss. As humans move into their habitat, they tend to destroy all ants in the area, depriving the horny toad of their favorite food.

Answer: Skink

This unusual looking lizard is a skink. They are often mistaken for snakes. Look closely and you will see it has very small legs. There are many different types of the adaptable skink, which can be found in the savannahs, grasslands, mountains, and even the desert. Most types of skink make their homes high in the trees, but there are a couple types that actually live underground.

Some types of skink can grow as large as two ft. (07m) long. The best way to tell a skink from a snake is to look for eyelids. Skinks have them and snakes do not.

Answer: False

Most lizards survive by eating insects and are referred to as insectivores. One of the most important role that lizards perform in nature is keeping the world's population of insects controlled. There are a few types of lizards that are carnivores and eat small animals and birds. There are also a couple types of lizards that are strict herbivores.

Answer: East Africa

The Jackson's chameleon is a striking animal. It has three horns and is sometimes called the triceratops lizard. Their three horns are used for attracting a mate or intimidating a potential rival for a mate. Native to East Africa, the lizard was avidly traded in the exotic animal market. This has led to harmful, invasive populations in Hawaii and many other Pacific islands.

Answer: Thorny devil

The thorny devil sometimes called a thorny dragon, is such a unique lizard that it is the only species found in its genus. This lizard has thorns or spines all over its body and tail. This terrestrial lizard changes color to match the ground it is walking on.

This ant-eating lizard makes its home in Australia, and despite its appearance is very non-threatening. The thorny devil is an endangered species, but there are many groups, both public and private who are working hard at saving this symbol of Australia's uniqueness.

Answer: Gila Monster

The venomous Gila monster can grow up to two ft. (0.6 meters) long. They can weigh as much as five pounds (2.4 kg). They are the largest lizard native to North America. They make their homes in the desert regions on the U.S./Mexico border. They are said to have a painful bite, but their toxin is usually not fatal unless the victim already has other health issues.

This threatened species is usually difficult to spot despite their size and bright colors. This is because they spend most of their life underground, and their populations are declining as humans move into their ecosystem.

The other three options are lizards that have gone extinct within the last 100 years.

Answer: True

Komodo dragons are the largest lizards on the planet. Unknown by the western world until 1912, this rare reptile is only found on the Lesser Islands of Sunda. Komodos come in a variety of colors including orange, green, blue and gray. They have long forked tongues which they use to smell and taste.

They use this along with their good vision to hunt water buffalo, deer, pigs, and possibly humans. They have been seen attacking and bringing large prey down with brute strength, and are also known to use their septic bite on large prey and then follow it around until starts dying from the venom and goes down, at which time the dragon will start eating it alive.