30 Animals Like Lizards (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of animals like lizards include alligators, crocodiles, and caiman.

While there are many animals that look like lizards, not all of them are actually classified as lizards. In fact, the largest group of reptiles on earth is called “lizards,” and it includes skinks, geckos, anoles, iguanas, and monitor lizards.

However, there are other animals that resemble these creatures and share some of their features. Here are 30 examples of animals like lizards but are not classified as such.

Examples of Animals Like Lizards

1. American Alligator

Alligators are reptiles of the family Alligatoridae, which also includes caimans. Although they may look similar to crocodiles, these two groups of reptiles are not closely related.

2. American Crocodile

The American crocodile is a large reptile found in the tropical regions of the Americas. It can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds. Unlike most lizards, the American crocodile is a carnivore that primarily feeds on fish, turtles, and small mammals.

3. Black Caiman

The black caiman is a large reptile that is found in South America. It can grow to be over 20 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Although it shares some similarities with lizards, such as its scaly skin and long tail, the black caiman is actually classified as a crocodilian.

4. Broad-Snouted Caiman

This reptile is found in South America and can grow up to 6.6 feet long. It has a broad, scaly snout, and its tail is covered in large scales.

5. Chinese Alligator

The Chinese alligator is a freshwater reptile that is native to China. It is the only member of the Alligatoridae family that is found outside of the United States. These animals can grow up to 11 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds.

While they may look similar to American alligators, they are actually more closely related to crocodiles.

6. Cuban Crocodile

This species of crocodile is endemic to Cuba and is the largest reptile in the country. It grows to an average length of 16 feet (4.9 meters) and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms).

While it shares some similarities with lizards, such as a long tail and scaly skin, the Cuban crocodile is actually more closely related to alligators and caimans.

7. Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman

This species of caiman is found in South America and can grow up to 4 feet long. It has a scaly body, a long tail, and sharp teeth.

While it may look like a lizard, the Dwarf Caiman is actually classified as a crocodilian.

8. Dwarf Crocodile

The dwarf crocodile is a small member of the crocodilian family. It is found in freshwater habitats in Africa and can grow up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) in length. Although it shares some features with lizards, such as scaly skin and a long tail, it is not closely related to them.

9. False Gharial

The false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) is a freshwater crocodilian found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It gets its name from its long, narrow snout, which resembles that of a gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).

Despite its appearance, the false gharial is not closely related to either the gharial or the true crocodiles (Crocodylidae), but is instead more closely related to the alligators and caimans (Alligatoridae).

10. Fischer’s Chameleon

While it may look like a lizard, the Fischer’s chameleon is actually classified as a chameleon. Chameleons are a type of reptile that can change the color of their skin to camouflage themselves in their environment.

11. Freshwater Crocodile

These crocodiles are found in Australia and New Guinea. They can grow up to 16 feet long and are the world’s largest living reptiles. However, they are not lizards because they don’t have external ear openings or movable eyelids.

12. Jackson’s Chameleon

One example of an animal that looks like a lizard but is not classified as such is the Jackson’s chameleon. This reptile is native to Kenya and Tanzania and is closely related to the true chameleons found in Madagascar.

While it shares many similarities with lizards, such as its long tongue and ability to change colors, the Jackson’s chameleon is not a true lizard.

13. Malagasy Giant Chameleon

At up to two feet long, the Malagasy giant chameleon is one of the largest chameleons in the world. Found only on the island of Madagascar, this creature has a prehensile tail and can change color. However, it is not a lizard because it lacks claws and ear openings.

14. Morelet’s Crocodile

This creature is found in Central and South America and can grow up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) long. Although it looks like a lizard, the Morelet’s crocodile is actually a member of the crocodilian family.

What sets this species apart from other crocodiles is its narrow snout, which is more similar to that of a lizard. Another difference is that this crocodile is semi-aquatic, meaning it can live both in water and on land.

15. Mugger Crocodile

This species of crocodile are found in freshwater habitats in India and Sri Lanka. It grows to be about 16 feet long and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

While the mugger crocodile does have scaly skin and a long tail like many lizards, it is not closely related to them. Instead, it is more closely related to alligators and caimans.

16. New Guinea Crocodile

This animal is actually classified as a crocodile, but it shares many features with lizards. For example, it has a long tail, four legs, and scaly skin.

17. Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile is the largest reptile in Africa and one of the biggest crocodiles in the world. It can grow up to 23 feet long and weigh over a ton. Despite its size, the Nile crocodile is a proficient hunter and often preys on animals as large as buffalo and zebra.

What separates the Nile crocodile from other crocodiles is its long, thin snout. Crocodiles have a broad, U-shaped snout while alligators have a wide, V-shaped one. The Nile crocodile’s narrow snout is more similar to that of a lizard.

18. Orinoco Crocodile

The Orinoco crocodile is a large reptile that can be found in the rivers of South America. It is one of the largest crocodiles in the world, reaching lengths of up to 20 feet (6 meters).

While it shares some features with lizards, such as a long tail and scaly skin, the Orinoco crocodile is actually classified as a crocodilian.

19. Panther Chameleon

The panther chameleon is a lizard-like reptile that is native to Madagascar. It is one of the largest chameleons in the world and can grow up to two feet in length. Panther chameleons are known for their ability to change colors, which they do to blend in with their surroundings or to communicate with other chameleons.

20. Parson’s Chameleon

The Parson’s chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is a large species of chameleon found in the forests of Madagascar. Growing up to 18 inches (46 cm) in length, it is one of the largest chameleons in the world. While its size and appearance may make it look like a lizard, the Parson’s chameleon is actually a member of the family Chamaeleonidae.

21. Philippine Crocodile

Although crocodiles are often associated with tropical climates, the Philippine crocodile is found in the temperate forests of the Philippines. These rare reptiles can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh over a ton.

22. Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile in the world and can grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) in length. These massive predators are found in brackish and saltwater habitats throughout parts of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa.

23. Siamese Crocodile

While this species of crocodile does have some lizard-like qualities, such as a long tail and scaly skin, it is not considered to be a lizard.

24. Skink

Skinks are small lizards with long tails and cylindrical bodies. They are found in tropical and temperate regions around the world. While they share many features with lizards, skinks are actually more closely related to snakes.

25. Smooth-Fronted Caiman

The smooth-fronted caiman is a type of alligator that is found in South America. It can grow to be about 6 feet long and is dark green or brown in color. Like other alligators, the smooth-fronted caiman has a broad head, a short snout, and sharp teeth.

26. Spectacled Caiman

This species of caiman is found in Central and South America and can grow up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. Although they have a similar appearance to lizards, they are actually crocodilians and are more closely related to alligators and dinosaurs.

27. Veiled Chameleon

The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is a species of chameleon found in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen, and parts of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most common and popular pet chameleons in the world.

The veiled chameleon has many features that make it look like a lizard, such as its long tail, scaly skin, and clawed feet. However, it is actually classified as a chameleon, not a lizard.

28. West African Crocodile

These crocodiles can grow up to 20 feet long and are some of the largest reptiles in the world. They are often mistaken for monitor lizards, but they are actually more closely related to alligators and caimans.

29. West African Slender-Snouted Crocodile

The West African slender-snouted crocodile is a species of crocodile found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and Senegal. It can grow up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) in length and weigh up to 220 pounds (100 kilograms).

30. Yacare Caiman

This animal is a type of alligator that is found in South America. It can grow to be about 15 feet long and weigh over 500 pounds.

While it does have some lizard-like qualities, such as scaly skin and sharp claws, it is not a lizard.

Conclusion

Lizards come in many shapes and sizes, some of which are hard to distinguish from other animals. In this article, we’ve highlighted animals like lizards that share common physical features with lizards. While they may not all be true lizards, these animals definitely have a lizard-like appearance.

Chris

I am the founder and owner of Fauna Facts. My mission is to write valuable and entertaining information about animals and pets for my audience. I hope you enjoy the site!