Squamates

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of reptiles that includes lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians, characterized by their scaly skin and often diverse forms
2. Members of the order Squamata, distinguished by their elongated bodies and varying habits, found in many terrestrial habitats
3. Ectothermic vertebrates known for their shed skin and adaptation to various environments, comprising a significant portion of reptilian life

Etymology: "Squamates" is the plural of "squamate," and the plural is what most readers meet, since it names the whole group of lizards and snakes. The adjective comes from Latin "squamatus," meaning "scaly," built on "squama," a scale, such as the scale of a fish or the scale of armour. Its use in biology is as an adjective applied to animals covered in scales. The group name, Squamata, was created in scientific Latin by taxonomists, who turned the adjective into a noun for an order of reptiles. The name describes the body covering of its members, whose skin is marked by overlapping scales, so the label is a plain description of a physical feature rather than a myth or a metaphor.