A taxonomic group of lizards characterized by the presence of a frenulum, a small ridge on the side of the head between the eye and nostril.
From Latin frenum via the diminutive frenulum, plus the Latin feminine plural -ae used in scientific nomenclature. The term describes a specific anatomical feature that distinguishes these lizards.
Scientists named an entire group of lizards based on a tiny ridge on their heads—that shows how even the smallest anatomical features can be important enough to categorize thousands of species!
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