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A parietal eye (third eye, pineal eye) is a part of the epithalamus in some vertebrates. The eye is at the top of the head; is photoreceptive; and is associated with the pineal gland, which regulates circadian rhythmicity and hormone production for thermoregulation. [ 1 ] The hole that contains the eye is known as the pineal foramen or parietal ...
Rhynchocephalus. (Owen, 1845) (rejected name) The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) is a species of reptile endemic to New Zealand. Despite its close resemblance to lizards, it is part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia. [8] The name tuatara is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back".
Snakes, lizards, and frogs, [18] especially those in desert environments, may be crepuscular. [ 2 ] Crepuscular birds include the common nighthawk , barn owl , [ 19 ] owlet-nightjar , chimney swift , American woodcock , spotted crake , white-breasted waterhen , [ 20 ] European nightjars , [ 8 ] and common buzzards .
The European leaf-toed gecko can grow to a length of about 8 cm (3 in) but 6 centimetres (2.4 in) is a more usual size. The head is diamond-shaped, wide and somewhat flattened, and the pupils of the large eyes are vertical slits. The body is quite plump and the limbs are short in relation to the length of the body.
In vertebrate eyes, the nerve fibers route before the retina, blocking some light and creating a blind spot where the fibers pass through the retina. In cephalopod eyes, the nerve fibers route behind the retina, and do not block light or disrupt the retina. 1 is the retina and 2 the nerve fibers. 3 is the optic nerve. 4 is the vertebrate blind ...
Squamata (/ skwæˈmeɪtə /, Latin squamatus, 'scaly, having scales') is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards and snakes. With over 12,162 species, [3] it is also the second-largest order of extant (living) vertebrates, after the perciform fish. Squamates are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields, and ...
Chameleon vision. The chameleon is among the most highly visually-oriented lizards, using this sense in prey capture, mating behavior, and predator avoidance. [1] Unique features of chameleon vision include a negative lens, a positive cornea, and monocular focusing. The development of the chameleon visual system could have evolved to aid in ...
The Varanidae are a family of lizards in the superfamily Varanoidea and order Anguimorpha. The family, a group of carnivorous and frugivorous lizards, [1] includes the living genus Varanus and a number of extinct genera more closely related to Varanus than to the earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus). [2] Varanus includes the Komodo dragon (the ...