Gymnophthalmidae

http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/families/
gymnophthalmidae.php

Gymnophthalmidae is a family of lizards, sometimes

known as spectacled lizards or microteiids. They are
called 'spectacled' because of their transparent lower eyelids, so they can still see with closed eyes. Like most
lizards, but unlike geckos, these eyelids are movable.

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.[1]
Gymnophthalmids live in a wide variety of habitats, from
desert to mountain to rain forest, throughout Central
America and South America. They are usually inhabitants of the forest oor or wet areas associated with
tropical forests, either nocturnal or intermittently active
throughout the day. Spectacled lizards eat mostly insects
and other invertebrates, and all species lay eggs. Often
they can be found under logs, rocks, or other debris or
foraging for small invertebrate prey. Some species are
able to dive in order to escape.[1]

Genera

Footnotes

[1] Bauer (1998)

References
Bauer, Aaron M. (1998): [Gymnophthalmidae]. In:
Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G. (eds.): Encyclopedia
of Reptiles and Amphibians: 171. Academic Press,
San Diego. ISBN 0-12-178560-2

External links
Media related to Gymnophthalmidae at Wikimedia
Commons
Mikkos Phylogeny Archive Gymnophthalmidae
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