Anguidae (lateral fold lizards, slow-worms, glass snakes; class Squamata, suborder Sauria) A family of reptiles whose members vary from four-legged lizards to legless snake-like forms (e.g. Anguis fragilis, the slow-worm or blindworm, and Ophisaurus apodus, the European glass lizard or glass snake). All have a forked tongue (unlike skinks of similar form), mobile eyelids, and tail autotomy. Some (e.g. A. fragilis) are ovoviviparous, others (e.g. O. apodus) egg-layers. There are about 40 species, found in America, Europe, Asia, and N. Africa.

glass snake (glass lizard) Legless lizard found in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. The cylindrical body has a groove along each side and is mostly brown or green. Length: 60–120cm (24–48in). Family Anguidae; genus Ophisaurus.

glass snake (Ophisaurus apodus) See ANGUIDAE.