Varanoidea

Varanoidea Temporal range: Late Cretaceous - Holocene, 94–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Possible Valanginian record
Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Infraorder:	Paleoanguimorpha
Clade:	Goannasauria
Superfamily:	Varanoidea Münster, 1834
Families
†Arcanosaurus? †Dryadissector †Kaganaias? †Judeasaurus †Cherminotus †Pachyvaranidae †Palaeovaranidae Lanthanotidae Varanidae

Varanoidea is a superfamily of lizards, including the well-known family Varanidae (the monitors and goannas). Also included in the Varanoidea are the Lanthanotidae (earless monitor lizards), and the extinct Palaeovaranidae.

Throughout their long evolutionary history, varanoids have exhibited great diversity, both in habitat and form. This superfamily includes the largest-known terrestrial lizard, Megalania (~5 meters), and the largest extant lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis, ~3 meters).