The Order Squamata is the largest group of reptiles, including lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), with over 11,000 known species worldwide. Squamates are characterized by their scaled skin, flexible skulls with movable joints that allow wide jaw opening, and regular shedding (ecdysis) of their skin. They occupy diverse habitats from deserts to rainforests and range greatly in size and diet, from tiny geckos to giant anacondas. Many are carnivorous, though some eat plants or insects. Squamates play vital ecological roles as both predators and prey in ecosystems across the globe.