lizardiforms

Lizardiforms is a traditional and informal grouping of extinct reptiles traditionally considered to be closely related to lizards. This paraphyletic group includes lizards themselves, as well as various extinct fossil reptiles that exhibit lizard-like characteristics, such as a long body and tail, and four limbs. The exact composition of lizardiforms has varied over time as phylogenetic understanding has evolved. Historically, it was used to encompass a broad range of squamate-like reptiles. Modern cladistic analyses have largely superseded this informal classification, preferring to place extinct reptiles within more precise phylogenetic trees based on shared derived characteristics. Many reptiles once informally grouped as lizardiforms are now understood to belong to distinct clades, some of which are more closely related to snakes or other specific groups of extinct diapsids. The term may still be encountered in older literature or in informal discussions, but it lacks formal taxonomic standing in contemporary paleontology. The study of these forms is crucial for understanding the early evolution and diversification of squamates and their close relatives.