what are the recognition differences between a lizard and a baby alligator?
359653
Alligators have a depressed (flattened) body and a compressed tail. Also, most young specimes are more brightly colored than "dull black" as you describe it. If you see it again, check the snout (long and with terminal nostrils in alligators), and the eyes (vertical pupils in alligators... but also in many lizards such as geckos). I'm puzzled by your reference to a chameleon, though, because those are not precisely typically lizard-like. I'm guessing it was probably a lizard; the dull coloration could be due to its being a large, rather old specimen.\n\n---------------\nUpdate: Thanks Suttkus! I wasn't thinking of anoles, and I know that no chameleons occur there :-P
1077889
If you do some research you will find that it has been said to actually mean "a lizard birth". I'm not joking.
1152094
All snakes and lizards have paired copulatory organs called "hemipenes".  These are not fleshy, but rather sacklike and their surface has spines and tubercles that differ from one species to the other, and a longitudinal groove through which the sperm flows during copulation. \nAnd only one of the hemipenes goes into the female cloaca during copulation. Lizards have paired oviducts and a cloaca, not paired vaginas.
1129757
Giganotosaurus I think...  its legs were shorter than the T-rex, however, the frame, build and bite where huge compared to the T-Rex.
956479
DESCRIPTION: \n\nThis unusual mid-sized stocky agamid lizard has prominent spines along its sides and a large, essentially triangle-shaped head. Forming a sort of shield around the snout is a spiney jaw pouch which, when swollen, looks like a beard and makes any predator think twice before attacking. This wide-ranging species shows considerable geographic variation; its basic color varies from shades of brown, gray, and reddish-brown to bright orange. The ventral surface ranges from pale to dark gray, with white elongated spots edged with black. Mature males have dark "beards" which become black during courtship and breeding. Adults can grow as large as ten inches in body length or two feet in total length, including the tail. Males are larger than females. \n\nII. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT: \n\nThese lizards are native to Central Australia. They prefer semi-arid to arid woodland habitats. Time is spent both on the ground and in trees. They may be found perched on bush branches and even on fence posts. \n\nIII. DIET:\n\nBearded dragons are omnivorous and consume many types of insects, small vertebrates, and vegetation including fruits and flowers. \n\nIV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:\n\nSexual maturity is reached at one to two years of age. Mature females typically lay clutches of eleven to sixteen oblong leathery eggs in early summer. The eggs are laid in nests dug in sandy soil and the unattended young hatch 3 months later. \n\nV. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:\n\nA bulky body and the habit of basking allows them to store heat, making it possible to operate at lower temperatures than other lizards. They can also survive higher temperatures for several hours, since they can regulate body temperature by evaporation. \n\nVI. INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION:\n\nWhen intimidated, they flatten their bodies and stand erect with mouth gaping. The light-colored mouth lining, spines bordering the lower jaw and puffed-out blackish beard give a formidable appearance. This defensive display has earned these lizards the common name of "bearded dragon". \nAggressiveness to other members of the group is shown through "body language". The tip of the tail is slightly curved at the end and the head is bobbed rapidly. Submission is signaled by rotating the arms in a full circular motion, which looks a bit like waving. Ritualistic sparring matches take place in which both animals are in flat postures, beards and tails up and outward; they circle each other, biting at one another's tail, but usually no damage is done. \n\nTheir ability to change shades of color, from light to dark, helps them to regulate body temperature. Color changes can also depend on emotional state, and may also be used for concealment. When injured, sick, or dying the back becomes black and the legs pale yellow. \n\nAustralian desert lizards often make their escape by rising on their hind legs and running bipedally. They cannot run as fast as when using four feet, but perhaps this behavior aids in temperature control. They lift their bodies from the hot ground to lose the heat they generate in running. This reduces the amount of heat they take in from the ground and increases the cooling airflow over their bodies.
291772
Yes it is. It has a backbone and internal skeleton (characteristics of vertebrates).  Plus it is a reptile..and all reptiles are vertebrates.
1167919
The croc is larger than the alligator,also one lives in fresh water the other in salt\none has more teeth than the other so hench would need a much larger toothbrush
659138
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/reptiles/
780735
GECko - a lizard like animal
518365
I think that alligators can live about 75 years; maybe a little longer.  My dad lives in southern Louisiana and he took me on a tour of an alligator farm about 6 or 7 years ago. allowing for some long-term (or is it short-term----see I already forgot) memory loss, I believe the man said around 75 yrs.
115860
This is the only i could find on the web.\n\nSnakelet, neonate (a newly-born snake), hatchling (a newly-hatched snake).\nhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/animals/Animalbabies.shtml
957141
T-rex sized clown.  Because a Tyrannosaur is about the size of a small *house*, meaning it wouldn't fully *fit* in the room.  :)  Meaning a) the big honking clown couldn't move enough to keep me from kicking him repeatedly in the gonads until he shuts up, and b) that assumes anything else--including myself--could even fit in the room with him, meaning the odds of my being trapped in there with him (and still alive) are fairly slim (and at that point, if he crushes me dead, then it's *his turn* to be scared of my flattened carcass).\n\nBy comparison, a clown-sized dinosaur would be like having a crocodile in the house, only faster.  :(  No thanks, I think being crushed like a cockroach under a huge clown shoe would be the quicker, more merciful death.  :)\n\nJust saying.
834670
No, though they look quite similar in many ways, they are two different species that do not have similar DNA.\nCrocodiles are in the family Crocodylidae, whereas Aligators are in the family Alligatoridae (I'm not making this up! Check the link!). Some animals that have cross-bred before (like donkey with horse, tiger with lion, zebra with donkey) have to be closer related.
25358
The Crocodile Monitor is the worlds largest (longest 15-19ft) lizard, the Komodo Dragon is the heaviest (10ft, 365 lbs).
275403
I think that if there were dinosaurs around, we'd know. They're pretty big, someone should have spotted one. But, rest assured, if I saw a real dinosaur, I'd wee my pants, being scared of a twenty foot tall lizard isn't anything to be ashamed of.
574261
Reptiles breath through thier skin.
1139468
Which lizard? Do you mean the crocodiles?