Knowra Anguinae Anguinae Anguinae is a subfamily of anguids that includes slow worms and related lizards with limbless or reduced-limbed bodies. Its members are legless or lizard-shaped, depending on the lineage.
Anguidae : Anguidae is a family of lizards that includes glass lizards, alligator lizards, and slow worms. Anguinae is classified within this broader lizard family.
Limb reduction in squamates : Limb reduction in squamates is the evolutionary shortening or loss of limbs in lizards and snakes. It explains the reduced-limbed and limbless forms found among anguines.
Anguis : Anguis is a genus of limbless lizards that includes the slow worm and related species. It contains the best-known European anguines.
Glass lizard : A glass lizard is a legless or nearly legless lizard, usually in the family Anguidae. The name commonly covers legless anguids, including some anguines, but not one single species.
Squamata : Squamata is the reptile order containing lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians. Anguidae and Anguinae belong to this larger reptile order.
Serpentine locomotion : Serpentine locomotion is movement produced by waves of lateral body bending against the ground or surrounding medium. Anguines with reduced limbs rely on body undulation to move.
Pseudopus : Pseudopus is a genus of large, legless anguids native to parts of southeastern Europe and western Asia. The European glass lizard represents a larger-bodied anguine form.
Snake : A snake is a limbless squamate reptile with a highly flexible skull and an elongated body. Anguines can resemble snakes but retain lizard traits such as movable eyelids and external ear openings.
Slow worm : The slow worm is a limbless European lizard in the genus Anguis. It is a familiar living member of Anguinae.
Autotomy : Autotomy is the voluntary shedding of a body part, commonly the tail, as a defense. Some anguids can shed their tails when seized by a predator.
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