Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Iguanidae

Iguanidae

9.9
A family of lizards like iguanas that live in Central and South America
  • noun
  • /ɪˈɡwɑːnɪˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Iguanidae
  • The family Iguanidae includes iguanas found in Central and South America.

Examples

  • Many species in the Iguanidae display bright colors and striking crests.

  • The Iguanidae family includes many species of lizards.

  • Herpetologists study members of the Iguanidae to understand lizard evolution.

  • Did you know that Iguanidae are primarily found in Central America?

  • Herpetologists study members of the Iguanidae to understand lizard evolution.

  • The family Iguanidae includes iguanas found in Central and South America.

  • Many species in the Iguanidae display bright colors and striking crests.

Surface Forms

Iguanidae singular
Iguanidaes plural

Morphology

Iguanidae = iguana (semi-transparent) = iguana + idae

The relation to 'iguana' is visible by form, but the suffix '-idae' is a specialized taxonomic marker (not a productive general-English suffix), so full interpretation requires biological/technical knowledge.

Etymology

Iguanidae comes from the common lizard name iguana plus the scientific ending -idae, which means 'family' in biology. Iguana came into English from Spanish, from a Caribbean native word, so Iguanidae simply means the 'family of iguanas' and refers to iguanas and their close relatives.