View source for Gymnophthalmidae

{{Short description|Family of lizards}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Spectacled lizards
| image = Leposoma rugiceps.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Loxopholis rugiceps]]''
| taxon = Gymnophthalmidae
| authority = [[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1826
| diversity_link = #Genera
| diversity = 265 species in 56 genera
}}

'''Gymnophthalmidae''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of lizards with at least 250 [[species]], sometimes known [[Common name|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 [[gecko]]s, 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 [[reptile scale|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.<ref name=bauer1998>[[:fr:Aaron Matthew Bauer|Bauer]] (1998).</ref>

Gymnophthalmids live in a wide variety of [[habitat]]s, from [[desert]] to [[mountain]] to [[rain forest]], throughout [[Central America]] and [[South America]]. They are usually inhabitants of the [[forest]] floor 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 [[oviparous|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 to escape.<ref name=bauer1998/>

==Genera==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Acratosaura]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Adercosaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Alexandresaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Amapasaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Anadia (lizard)|Anadia]]'' (20 species)
*''[[Andinosaura]]'' (11 species)
*''[[Anotosaura]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Arthrosaura]]'' (7 species)
*''[[Bachia]]'' (31 species)
*''[[Calyptommatus]]'' (5 species)
*''[[Caparaonia]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Centrosaura]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Cercosaura]]''  (18 species)
*''[[Colobodactylus]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Colobosaura]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Colobosauroides]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Dendrosauridion]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Dryadosaura]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Echinosaura]]'' (8 species)
*''[[Ecpleopus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Euspondylus]]'' (10 species)
*''[[Gelanesaurus]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Gymnophthalmus]]'' (8 species)
*''[[Heterodactylus]]'' (3 species)
*''[[Iphisa]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Kaieteurosaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Kataphraktosaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Leposoma]]'' (6 species)
*''[[Loxopholis]]'' (11 species)<ref>{{EMBL genus|genus=Loxopholis}}. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
*''[[Macropholidus]]'' (4 species)
*''[[Magdalenasaura]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Marinussaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Micrablepharus]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Neusticurus]]'' (7 species)
*''[[Nothobachia]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Oreosaurus]]'' (7 species)
*''[[Pantepuisaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Petracola]]'' (5 species)
*''[[Pholidobolus]]'' (13 species)
*''[[Placosoma (lizard)|Placosoma]]'' (4 species)
*''[[Potamites]]'' (7 species)
*''[[Procellosaurinus]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Proctoporus]]'' (21 species)
*''[[Psilops]]'' (3 species)
*''[[Rhachisaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Rheosaurus]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Riama]]'' (15 species)
*''[[Riolama]]'' (6 species)
*''[[Rondonops]]'' (2 species)
*''[[Scriptosaura]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Selvasaura]]'' (3 species)
*''[[Stenolepis]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Tretioscincus]]'' (3 species)
*''[[Vanzosaura]]'' (3 species)
* ''[[Wilsonosaura]]'' (monotypic)
*''[[Yanomamia]]'' (2 species)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{aut|[[:fr:Aaron Matthew Bauer|Bauer, Aaron M.]]}} (1998). "[Gymnophthalmidae]". p.&nbsp;171. ''In:'' {{aut|[[Harold Cogger|Cogger, Harold G.]]; [[Richard G. Zweifel|Zweifel, Richard G.]]}} (editors) (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians''. San Diego: Academic Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-12-178560-2}}.
*{{aut|[[:fr:Coleman Jett Goin|Goin, Coleman J.]]; Goin, Olive B.; [[:de:George Robert Zug|Zug, George R.]]}} (1978). ''Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition''. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company:xi + 378 pp. {{ISBN|0-7167-0020-4}}. ("Subfamily Gymnophthalminae", p.&nbsp;305).

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060928003214/http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/Metazoa/Deuterostoma/Chordata/Reptilia/Lepidosauromorpha/Scincomorpha/Gymnophthalmidae/Gymnophthalmidae.htm   Mikko's Phylogeny Archive Gymnophthalmidae]
*https://web.archive.org/web/20090614085743/http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/families/gymnophthalmidae.php
{{Squamata families}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q244414}}

[[Category:Gymnophthalmidae| ]]
[[Category:Lizard families]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger]]