SQUAMATA REALM The Evolution of Lizards Mosasaurs and Snakes

Squamates, a diverse group of reptiles that include lizards, snakes, and the extinct marine mosasaurs, represent a remarkable evolutionary lineage. Emerging during the Triassic period, around 240 million years ago, squamates evolved from diapsid ancestors and became one of the most adaptive and widespread reptilian groups. Their success is marked by key traits such as flexible skulls, which allowed for diverse feeding strategies, and an exceptional ability to inhabit varied ecosystems, from deserts to oceans.The group diversified significantly during the Mesozoic era, with lizards thriving on land and mosasaurs dominating marine environments in the Late Cretaceous. Following the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, snakes underwent a major evolutionary radiation, filling ecological niches left vacant by the event. Today, with over 10,000 species, squamates showcase an extraordinary range of sizes, forms, and behaviors, reflecting their evolutionary ingenuity and adaptability.

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