Lizards typically have feet and external ears, while snakes lack both of
these characteristics. However, because they are defined negatively as
excluding snakes, lizards have no unique distinguishing characteristic
as a group. Lizards and snakes share a movable quadrate bone, distinguishing them from the sphenodonts, which have more primitive and solid diapsid skulls. Many lizards can detach their tails to escape from predators, an act called autotomy.
Vision, including color vision, is particularly well developed in most
lizards, and most communicate with body language or bright colors on
their bodies, as well as with pheromones. Lizards are the most speciose among extant reptiles, comprising about 60% of all living species.
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