The Family Anguidae is a group of lizards that includes glass lizards, alligator lizards, slowworms, and related species, with around 100 species distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and Central America. Many members are elongated and limb-reduced or limbless, giving them a snake-like appearance, though they can be distinguished by the presence of movable eyelids and external ear openings. Their bodies are typically covered in non-overlapping, often keeled scales supported by bony plates (osteoderms), which provide extra protection. Most anguids are insectivorous or omnivorous, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and plant material. They play important ecological roles as mid-level predators and are known for their ability to autotomize (shed) their tails as a defense mechanism against predators.