lacertidlike

Lacertidlike is a descriptive term used in herpetology and paleontology to refer to lizards or lizard‑like fossils that resemble the living members of the family Lacertidae, commonly known as lacertids. The term is adjectival and non-taxonomic; it indicates similarity in morphology rather than direct phylogenetic affinity.

In modern classifications Lacertidae is part of the lacertoid lineage within Squamata, and lacertidlike generally implies lacertid‑like external morphology or skeletal features. When used in fossil descriptions, lacertidlike denotes a morphology that evokes lacertids but does not confirm membership in Lacertidae or Lacertoidea; such resemblance may be due to convergent evolution among diverse squamates.

Typical lacertidlike features cited in descriptions include an elongated body with a relatively long tail, a generally smooth to small dorsal scalation pattern, and a head shape similar to lacertids. However, there is substantial variation among lacertoids and other lizards, and many reconstructed fossils show only partial resemblance.

Geographic and temporal context: extant lacertids are widespread in the Old World, while lacertidlike fossils have been reported from various periods and regions where lacertids or their relatives lived. The use of the term underscores morphological judgment rather than definitive taxonomic placement.

See also: Lacertidae, Lacertoidea, Teiidae, Amphisbaenia.