Anguidae – Anguids

Members of this Family are sleek, elongated lizards. Primarily terrestrial, a few species can also be arboreal or fossorial (burrowing). The most striking feature of this family is that limbs are reduced or completely absent in many species. Some representative species are glass lizards, alligator lizards, and slow worms— let’s find out why they’re named so!

Anguids often have a glossy appearance (hence, ‘glass’ lizards) and are primarily colored in bronze or grey. Their scales are supported by bony elements from beneath (hence ‘alligator’ lizards). Anguids are slow-moving reptiles (‘slow’ worms, anyone?).

Many Anguidae species (especially genus Abronia) are threatened by habitat destruction.