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Definition of fringe-toed lizard

fringe-toed lizard

Plural:fringe-toed lizards
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fringe-toed lizard Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several desert-dwelling lizards, notably of the North American genus Uma or the Old World genus Acanthodactylus, characterized by elongated, fringe-like scales on their hind toes that provide traction on loose sand.

Example

"The fringe-toed lizard can run at remarkable speeds across the steep face of sand dunes without sinking."

• Nearby Words

frilled dragon
frilled lizard
fringe
fringe-toed lizard
fringecup
fringed orchid
fringed tulip

Word Origin & Etymology

Named descriptively for the specialized, comb-like scales (fringes) on their hind toes, an evolutionary adaptation that prevents them from sinking into fine desert sand.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fringe-toed lizard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fringe-toed lizard
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