Anguidae refers to a large and diverse family of lizards native to the Northern Hemisphere. Common characteristics of this group include a reduced supratemporal arch, striations on the medial faces of tooth crowns, osteoderms, and a lateral fold in the skin of most taxa. The group is divided into two living subfamilies, the legless Anguinae, which contains slow worms and glass lizards, among others, found across the Northern Hemisphere, and Gerrhonotinae, which contains the alligator lizards, native to North and Central America. The family Diploglossidae was also formerly included. The family contains about 87 species in 8 genera.
Elgaria is a genus of New World lizards in the family Anguidae. Their common name is western alligator lizards.
Gerrhonotus is a genus of anguid lizards that are commonly referred to as alligator lizards, due to a vague resemblance to an alligator. Most species are restricted to Mexico, but a few range into Guatemala or Texas, and G. rhombifer is from Costa Rica and Panama. Along with glass lizards (Ophisaurus) and many other lizards, alligator lizards have the ability to regrow their tail.
The southern alligator lizard is a common species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges from Baja California to the state of Washington and lives in a variety of habitats including grasslands, chaparral, forests, and even urban areas. In dry climates, it is likely to be found in moist areas or near streams. There are five recognized subspecies.
The northern alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the North American west coast.
The Texas alligator lizard is a species of lizard in the subfamily Gerrhonotinae of the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the central region of the American state of Texas, and south into adjacent northern Mexico.
The Mexican alligator lizard, also known as the green arboreal alligator lizard, is an endangered species of lizard endemic to the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca highlands of Mexico. It can be found in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. It was originally described under the genus Gerrhonotus as Gerrhonotus gramineus by Edward D. Cope in 1864.
The Panamint alligator lizard is a species of lizard in the Anguidae family.
Abronia matudai, Matuda's arboreal alligator lizard, is a species of endangered arboreal alligator lizard in the family Anguidae. The species, which was originally described in 1946 by Norman Hartweg and Joseph Tihen, is endemic to Central America.
The isthmian alligator lizard is a species of lizard of the Anguidae family. G. rhombifer is found in both Costa Rica and Panama. Unlike many lizards near its habitat, individuals have lateral folds. They give birth to live young. Gerrhonotus rhombifer had not been seen for fifty years, prior to being rediscovered in 2000 near Golfito, and is one of the rarest species of lizard in Costa Rica.
The Madrean alligator lizard, also known commonly as King's alligator lizard and el lagarto de montaña in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico.
Gerrhonotus parvus is a species of lizard in the subfamily Gerrhonotinae. It is endemic to the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The name parvus is from the Latin word for small because it is the species of smallest adult size recognized in the genus Gerrhonotus. It lives in dry forests transitioning to scrub in the eastern Sierra Madre Oriental at elevations of 900–1,650 m (2,950–5,410 ft) above sea level. They are usually found among dead leaves of yuccas in open wood areas. It seems to prefer dry limestone canyons. It is a relatively small species, with the maximum reported snout–vent length at 76 mm (3.0 in). It is oviparous and has a litter size of 4–6 eggs. Its head is glossy and smooth, grayish brown in color with scattered dark spots. The lips are peppered with pigment and the chin and throat are white in color.
Gerrhonotus farri, also known commonly as Farr's alligator lizard and the Tamaulipan alligator lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to northeastern Mexico.
Gerrhonotus liocephalus, the Texas alligator lizard or Wiegmann's alligator lizard, is a species of lizard of the Anguidae family. It is found in Texas, Mexico and Guatemala.
Gerrhonotus lugoi, Lugo's alligator lizard, is a species of lizard of the Anguidae family. It is found in Mexico.
The Cedros Island alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
The San Lucan alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
The central peninsular alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Barisia ciliaris, also known commonly as the Sierra alligator lizard, the imbricate alligator lizard, and el escorpión de montaña in Mexican Spanish, is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
There are two species of lizard named Texas alligator lizard:
