This book provides an overview of the diversity of lizards and their major adaptive features. The authors discuss the latest research findings and provide new hypotheses about lizard diversity.

The only title available on Australian Dragon Lizards including the most recent understanding of their origins and life history. Australia's mostly hot dry continent is home to nearly 800 described species and the seven Australian families represent four evolutionary lineages; three families of geckoes and flap-footed (legless) lizards; skinks; goannas and dragons. Australia is a land of lizards, with an amazing diversity of species that rivals any other country on earth. The authors aim to convey their admiration for these amazing animals and share the knowledge and experience gained from working with them. Provided are the most recent understanding of their origins, life history, habitat and distribution. Also included is an individual account of all of Australia's dragon species, featuring the most up to date taxonomic classification. Each is described, illustrated and mapped.

Lizards and snakes (squamate reptiles) are the most diverse vertebrate group in Australia, with approximately 1000 described species, representing about 10% of the global squamate diversity. Squamates are a vital part of the Australian ecosystem, but their conservation has been hindered by a lack of knowledge of their diversity, distribution, biology and key threats. The Action Plan for Australian Lizards and Snakes 2017 provides the first comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of Australian squamates in 25 years. Conservation assessments are provided for 986 species of Australian lizards and snakes (including sea snakes). Over the past 25 years there has been a substantial increase in the number of species and families recognised within Australia. There has also been an increase in the range and magnitude of threatening processes with the potential to impact squamates. This has resulted in an increase in the proportion of the Australian squamate fauna that is considered Threatened. Notably over this period, the first known extinction (post-European settlement) of an Australian reptile species occurred – an indication of the increasingly urgent need for better knowledge and management of this fauna. Six key recommendations are presented to improve the conservation management and plight of Australian squamates. This Action Plan represents an essential resource for research scientists, conservation biologists, conservation managers, environmental consultants, policy makers from Commonwealth and State/Territory governments, and the herpetological community.

The extraordinary lives of lizards remain largely hidden from human eyes. Lizards feed, mate, lay eggs or give live birth, and carefully manage their temperatures. They struggle to survive in a complex world of predators and competitors. The nearly 700 named Australian species are divided into seven families: the dragons, monitors, skinks, flap-footed lizards and three families of geckos. Using a vast array of artful strategies, lizards have managed to find a home in virtually all terrestrial habitats. Australian Lizards: A Natural Historytakes the reader on a journey through the remarkable life of lizards. It explores the places in which they live and what they eat, shows how they make use of their senses and how they control their temperatures, how they reproduce and how they defend themselves. Lavishly illustrated with more than 400 color photographs, this book reveals behavioral aspects never before published, offering a fascinating glimpse into the unseen lives of these reptiles. It will appeal to a diverse readership, from those with a general interest in natural history to the seasoned herpetologist.