Lacertidae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of lizards commonly known as wall lizards or true lizards, characterized by their elongated bodies and quick movements; a classification in reptilian taxonomy grouping various small to medium-sized, ground-dwelling lizards; a distinct group within the order Squamata known for diverse species inhabiting Europe, Asia, and North Africa
2. A taxonomic family encompassing several genera of agile lizards often recognized by their scaly skin and terrestrial habits; a classification category identifying reptiles that are typically insectivorous and exhibit diurnal activity; a reptile family distinguished by members with well-developed limbs and a wide variety of colors and patterns
3. A grouping in biological classification for certain agile lizards with slender bodies and long tails that inhabit various terrestrial environments; a family within the order of reptiles noted for their distinctive morphology and ecological adaptations; a reptilian family characterized by a range of species living mainly in temperate and Mediterranean regions with active, swift behavior

Etymology: The name is a scientific coinage built from the Latin "lacerta", meaning lizard. Taxonomists add the ending "-idae" to mark a family-level group of animals. That ending derives from the Greek patronymic suffix "-idēs", meaning "son of", so the name reads roughly as "the lizard's offspring," a family named for its best-known member. The family includes the wall lizards and sand lizards of Europe, Africa and Asia. The Latin "lacerta" has an uncertain origin. It is sometimes linked to "lacertus", meaning muscle or upper arm, perhaps for the animal's quick, muscular body, but that connection is not firmly established.

Synonyms: wall lizard family, true lizards, lacertid lizards