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Lacertilia (lizards)

Serpentes (snakes)

Amphisbaenia (worm-lizards)

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Extremely flexible joints in jaw and skull

Vertebrae

Covered in dry scales

Temporal fenestra (holes) on each side of head

Male squamates posses hemipenes

Ectothermic (cold blooded)

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Periodically shed their skin

Don't eat as frequently as mammals

Diet varies, commonalities include rodents and insects

Most reproduce sexually, but some reproduce through parthogenesis

Most lay eggs

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Dendroaspis polylepis

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Exist on every continent except for Antarctica

Some are arboreal (live in trees) while some are terrestrial (live on ground)

Laying eggs and infrequent eating allows for habitat versatility, ranging from hot deserts to wet rainforests

Lacertilia and Serpentes live above ground while Amphisbaenia live below ground

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The three chosen exemplary organisms of Order Squamata is the Mexican Mole Lizard, the Common Chameleon, and the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Each of these organisms represent a species out of the three suborders of Squamata: Amphisbaenia, Lacertilia, and Serpentes, respectively. While all species are related, they have numerous characteristics that set them apart. For example, the Mexican Mole Lizard is characterized by having ring scales, basic eyes, and the loss of limbs. Lizards, however, usually have four legs and ears, while snakes have neither of those. Many differences exist between the three but these are the most prominent physical features that show how each species evolved.

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Bipedidae
Genus: Bipes
Species: Biporus

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: Atrox

No legs,

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Organisms are classified into different taxonomic ranks based on shared characteristics between different species. The more two species have in common through their taxonomy, the more related they are. For example, the Common Chameleon is more related to the Veiled Chameleon than the Rattlesnake because they're both Genus Chamaeleo. This can assist scientists in determining the evolutionary relationships and changes that occur.

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Chamealeo
Species: Chameleon

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Some squamates possess proteins and toxins that creates venom due to a mutation in the salivary glands. This proved to be a useful advantage to these squamates, as the venom allows them to be protected from predators and  kill animals much larger than them. It also aids in digestion. After hundreds of years of natural selection, the proteins in the venom have evolved to be very complex from species to species: for example, the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake's causes internal bleeding while the King Cobra's venom causes paralysis.

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All Squamates are characterized by having long and usually slim bodies. Because Squamates are not amphibious, they rely solely on their lungs for breathing. However, due to their slim body type, one lung is considerably smaller than the other lung so it is able to fit. Snakes and lizards usually have a smaller left lung while worm lizards have a smaller right lung. This is an important evolutionary adaptation for squamates as it allows them to have normal capacity for respiration, which is important in functions like metabolism, while still maintaining their body shape.

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Even though species of squamates can look extremely different, their DNA is often very similar. For example, 100 million years ago, both snakes and lizards had legs. However, a minuscule mutation occurred in snakes that prevented the gene for limb growth (Sonic the Hedgehog) from ever turning on. This proved to be beneficial to snakes as it allowed for easy movement when hunting. However, snake embryos show that they still have limbs early on in development, showing the relatedness of snakes and lizards despite evolution.

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(Ouroborus cataphractus)

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Squamates have a distinctly forked tongue they use to detect chemicals in the air, which they do using the "Vomeronasal organ" located in the nasal chamber. Rattlesnakes and snakes in general to "hiss," by flicking their tongue, but they are just using the function of this organ. This trait has evolved in Squamates as it allows them to sense predators and prey, thus providing them with a better chance of surviving and reproducing.

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The fossils of Order Squamata still have similar basic DNA and structures, but have evolved due to changing environmental pressures. Organisms such as Mosasaurus, Mauritian Giant Skink, and Titanoboa, Megachirella wachtleri, and Asprosaurus bibongriensis represent the changes in evolution that species under the order squamata have gone through.

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(Varanus komodoensis)

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(Leiolopisma mauritiana)
Age: became extinct in the 17th century
The Mauritian Giant Skink's long, slim body and strong fingers were made for burrowing and living underground, which is only characteristic of some Squamates today, especially worm lizards.

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Age: 240 MYA
Era: Permian
Scientists recently discovered the Megachirella wachtleri, and they dubbed it "the Mother of All Lizards." It has similar skeletal structures, namely flexible jaw joints, that many modern day Squamates have.

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Age: 83-72 MYA
Era: Cretaceous
Due to its unique joint and limb structure, the Asprosaurus bibongriensis is thought to be the ancestor of the Gila monsters.

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(Titanoboa cerrejonensis)
Age: 60-58 MYA
Era: Paleocene
The warmer, tropical climate of the Paleocene era allowed the ectothermic animals to grow extremely large: the titanoboa is the largest snake ever discovered, at around 45 feet.

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Age: 145-67 MYA
Era: Cretaceous-Paleocene
Mosasauruses, like many other extinct reptiles, were massive at nearly 60 feet long and 5 tons. This shows the evolution of reptiles as they gradually got much smaller as their bones and organs condensed.

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Squamates evolved directly from amphibians, which in turn evolved from bony fish

Ancestors to birds and dinosaurs

First true terrestrial vertebrates

First to lay shelled eggs

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Pogona vitticeps

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Divergent evolution is the main type of evolution in play within Order Squamata, as the parent species gave rise to two different species that are still related and have somewhat similar traits, but are fundamentally separate. The parent species that Squamates evolved from are amphibians, and the three types of Squamata, Lacertilia, Serpentes, and Amphisbaenia, have had to evolve under different environmental pressures and ecological niches, which made them structurally different.

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Members of Order Squamata choose their mates very carefully. Each species has a unique mating process- for example, with chameleons, males will turn gray in order to act submissive to the females. For snakes, during mating season, females will release pheromones that leave a scent trail on the ground everywhere they go that day. All squamate males possess hemipenes, which are reproductive organs that are reverted back into the animal's body, so sometimes animals have a difficult time telling the difference between a male and female animal if they cannot detect their pheromones.

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Charles Darwin's Descent with Modification theory describes how all species have descended from a common ancestor. This occurs due to changes in gene frequency and those genes being passed on through generations (heredity). There are over 7000 species within Order Squamata and they can be found across the globe. They've adapted through many different habitats- for example, sea snakes have evolved from venomous terrestrial snakes to live primarily in the water- traits that allow them to do this have been passed on through generations, causing speciation. Examples can also be seen through Amphisbaenians, who also evolved from amphibians, have adapted to living underground- their long fingers and moist skin allows them to burrow. Both of these examples show speciation and descent with modification.

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Squamata most likely evolved through gradualism. Lizards first appeared around 310 million years ago, and the earliest snake fossil dates back to 160 million years ago. After amphibians were able to lay shelled eggs, reptiles gradually evolved from there to become terrestrial. Then, millions of years later, lizards lost their legs and their joints became more flexible, turning into snakes. While lizards were impacted by many major extinction events, the actual evolution was not marked by rapid changes with periods of no change, but rather slow and gradual changes that lead to the divergence of new species.

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While organisms do not evolve solely through one type of evolution, most squamates evolve via directional selection. Many species are suited perfectly for their environment, so having the extreme version of a trait will give them the best fitness. For example, burrowing lizards and Amphisbaenia will have long claws instead of short or medium ones because long claws best assist with burrowing. Lizards like the canopy lizards that live in trees have evolved to have extremely long tails and strong toe pads for better grip on trees.

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When Squamates are introduced to a new environment, they have the ability to rapidly change small characteristics about themselves within their species. For example, a study for the Anole lizards showed that after scientists introduced predators to the Anole lizards, they moved their habitats higher up into the trees, which caused them to evolve larger toe pads in just under 20 generations.