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Gymnophthalmidae

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Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards with at least 250 species, sometimes known commonly as spectacled lizards or microteiids. They are called "spectacled" because of their transparent lower eyelids, which allow them to still see with closed eyes. As in most lizards, except geckos, these eyelids are movable. The Alopoglossidae have been recently moved from this family.

Species

FAMILY

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassSquamata
  4. OrderSquamata
  5. FamilyGymnophthalmidae
Observations recorded58,142

via GBIF

Museum specimens

Specimen records
214
Family
Gymnophthalmidae
Collections
LSUMZ, UAZ, MSUM, AMNH, USNM
Recorded in
Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Panama, Ecuador, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil

Wikidata facts

Instance of
taxon
Parent taxon
Lacertoidea
Image
Leposoma rugiceps.jpg
Show 5 more facts
Commons category
Gymnophthalmidae
taxon name
Gymnophthalmidae
taxon rank
family
topic's main category
Category:Gymnophthalmidae
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

~3 min read

Encyclopedic overview

5 sections
Contents
  • Description and ecology
  • Genera
  • References
  • Bibliography
  • External links

Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards with at least 250 species, sometimes known commonly as spectacled lizards or microteiids. They are called "spectacled" because of their transparent lower eyelids, which allow them to still see with closed eyes. As in most lizards, except geckos, these eyelids are movable. The Alopoglossidae have been recently moved from this family.

==Description and ecology== Spectacled lizards are related to the Teiidae, but they look like skinks (slightly more distant relatives) with smooth scales. They are generally small lizards; many species have reduced limbs. Unusually among lizards, however, it is generally the hind limbs that are reduced or absent, rather than the forelimbs.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Gymnophthalmidae” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.