The family Xantusiidae, commonly known as night lizards, belongs to the order Squamata, which includes lizards and snakes. Xantusiids are small, secretive lizards primarily found in North and Central America, often inhabiting crevices, leaf litter, or under rocks and logs. They are notable for their viviparous or ovoviviparous reproduction, giving birth to live young in many species, and for their relatively low metabolic rates and long lifespans compared to other lizards of similar size. Night lizards are generally nocturnal or crepuscular and feed on small insects and other invertebrates. Their cryptic habits and preference for stable microhabitats make them elusive and interesting subjects for ecological and evolutionary studies.