'Newsweek' recently took a closer look at the approximate 6,000 reptile species in the world and their average lifespans.
According to Dr. James Stroud, a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Losos Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, the lifespans of reptiles "can vary dramatically."
Depending on several factors, reptiles can live anywhere from mere months to several decades.
"In one extreme case—Labord's chameleon from Madagascar—most of its life is spent as an egg. Once the chameleon hatches, it reaches sexual maturity in less than two months, breeds, and dies at age four to five months" Martin Whiting, professor of Animal Behavior at Sydney's Macquarie University, via 'Newsweek'.
"On the other end of the extreme, there are lizard species that live to their 40s, 50s and 60s," Martin Whiting, professor of Animal Behavior at Sydney's Macquarie University, via 'Newsweek'.
"In many cases, we simply don't know how long a species lives in the wild because nobody has studied them for long enough to find out," Martin Whiting, professor of Animal Behavior at Sydney's Macquarie University, via 'Newsweek'.
When it comes to pet lizards, proper care and attention can help extend a reptile's lifespan.
Lighting, heating and humidity all play a key role in maintaining conditions that will help reptiles stay healthy and live longer.
Lizards that only have an average lifespan of one year in the wild may live much longer in captivity.
Life as a pet means that lizards don't have to deal with predators, parasites or the struggle to obtain food since it is provided for them.