The Eddystone Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the English Channel, erected to mark a group of rocks lying in the fair-way from the Start to the Lizard. The rocks are covered only at the flood. The first lighthouse was of wood, and built by Henry Winstanley in 1696. It was carried away in the storm of 1703. Another lighthouse, also of wood, was built in 1706 by Mr. Rudyerd, but was burned down in 1755. It was succeeded by one built by John Smeaton in 1757 to 1759, which was a circular tower some 85 feet tall. The foundations becoming weakend this structure was replaced in 1879 - 1822 by one designed by Sir J N Douglass and placed on the neighbouring reef. Research Eddystone Lighthouse
The Alligator lizard is a reptile of the family Anguidae, the legless lizards; it is the only member of the group to have well developed limbs. It is found in North and Central America. Research Alligator lizard
Apatosaurus - also known as Brontosaurus - was a huge, plant-eating dinosaur, of the suborder Sauropoda, that lived in the Late Jurassic period, more than 140 million years ago. The name Brontosaur comes from the Greek bronte, 'thunder' and sauros, 'lizard', and implies that the animal shook the ground when it walked. It was about 21 metres long and weighed up to 30 metric tons. Its body was relatively short and thick, the neck long and slender, the tail large and strong, and the four limbs massive and of nearly equal length. The first brontosaurus skeleton was discovered in 1879 in Colorado by the American palaeontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. It lacked a skull, so Marsh gave it a blunt, small skull found nearby. Scientists confirmed in 1979 that the skull was that of another sauropod, Camarasaurus. The Apatosaurus true skull was found to have a longer snout and longer, finer teeth. Research Apatosaurus
Axolotl are salamanders of the genus Amblystoma found in North America. The Axolotl is a stoutly-built lizard-like animal, about 25 cm long, dark grey in colour with black spots. The tail is flattened and has a semi-transparent membranous fin. The head is flat and broad and has three feathery gills on each side. The Axolotl retain many larval characteristics, but can develop into full adults in certain conditions. In Mexico they were eaten as a delicacy by the native Indians. Research Axolotl
A chameleon is a very slow lizard with a long and deadly fast tongue used for catching its prey. It has split toes specially adapted for grasping and swivel eyes. The chameleon can change colour in a green to yellowish grey range to suit its surroundings, and also changes colour depending upon its mood and state of agitation. Research Chameleon
Dragon-Lizard is a name for several species of lizards inhabiting Asia, Africa, and South America. The common flying lizard (Draco volans), the best type of the genus, is about 25 cm in length, the tail being extremely long in proportion to the body. The sides are furnished with peculiar extensions of the skin, forming a kind of wings, which help to support it in the air when it springs from branch to branch. Its food consists almost exclusively of insects. Research Dragon-Lizard
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus Kenti) is a reptile of the lizard family Agamidae found in Australia. It grows to about 90 centimetres in length and receives its name from the presence of a large expansion of the skin at either side of the neck, the two halves meeting at the throat. This frill is notched at the edge. has special supporting cartilages, and by means of muscles can be folded or expanded at will. The lizard walks on its hind limbs, having the fore limbs hanging down. Research Frilled Lizard
The galliwasp (Diploglossus), is a genus of lizard of the family Anguidae, about 30cm long and stout and plump. It is generally brown in colour and is native to the West Indies and was particularly common in Jamaica during the 19th century. Research Galliwasp
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Eddystone Lighthouse
