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How many species of lizards are known?

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black girdle-tailed lizard — lizard Black girdle-tailed lizard (*Cordylus nigra*).

There are more than 5,500 known species of lizards. These animals belong to the order Squamata, which also includes snakes. While snakes are considered a highly specialized group of limbless lizards, they are often categorized separately in literature due to their unique physical traits.1

Taxonomy in this field is frequently updated as researchers utilize DNA analysis and cladistics to better understand evolutionary relationships. Consequently, while older classifications or specific suborder groupings may cite figures such as approximately 4,450 species, the broader scientific consensus recognizes a total exceeding 5,500 species of reptiles within the lizard group.12