What is Varanidae?
{{Taxobox | image = A large adult male Varanus bitatawa - ZooKeys-266-001-g070.jpg | image_width = | image_caption =''[[Varanus bitatawa]]'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Reptile|Sauropsida]] | ordo = [[Squamata]] | subordo = [[Lacertilia]] | infraordo = [[Anguimorpha]] | superfamilia = [[Varanoidea]] | familia = '''Varanidae''' | familia_authority = [[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], 1820 | subdivision_ranks = [[Genera]] | subdivision = *''[[Varanus]]''}} '''Varanidae''' is the [[family (biology)|family]] of monitor lizards. The family is a group of [[carnivore|carnivorous]] [[lizard]]s. It includes the largest living lizard, the [[Komodo dragon]], and the [[crocodile monitor]]. Varanidae contains the living [[genus]] ''[[Varanus]]'' and some [[extinct]] groups. Their closest living relatives are the [[Anguidae|anguid]] and [[heloderma]]tid lizards.<ref>Fry B.G. ''et al'' 2006. Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes . ''Nature'' '''439''', 584–588. [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v439/n7076/abs/nature04328.html]</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{biology-stub}} [[category:Monitor lizards]]