The
Lepidosauria (from Greek meaning
scaled lizards) are
reptiles with overlapping scales. This subclass includes
Squamata and
Rhynchocephalia. It is a monophyletic group and therefore contains all descendents of a common ancestor. Squamata includes
snakes,
lizards, and
amphisbaenia. Rhynchocephalia was a widespread and diverse group 220-100 million years ago; however, it is now represented only by the genus
Sphenodon, which contains two species of
tuatara, native to New Zealand. Lepidosauria is the sister taxon to
Archosauria, which includes
Aves and
Crocodilia. Lizards and snakes are the most speciose group of Lepidosaurs and, combined, contain over 9,000 species. There are many noticeable distinguishing morphological differences between lizards, tuataras, and snakes.