Leiosauridae


Leiosauridae is a family of iguanian lizards containing six genera and 34 species. The family is endemic to Central America and South America.

Taxonomy

A 2022 phylogenetic study found the Leiosauridae to be the sister taxa to the Opluridae, a unique family of iguanians endemic to Madagascar, and one of only two pleurodont lineages found outside the Americas. This called into question the previous hypothesis of Opluridae being the last members of an ancient lineage of Gondwanan iguanians, as the study found that the Leiosauridae and Opluridae only diverged during the Paleocene, about 60 million years ago. Opluridae are now thought to have colonized Madagascar via oceanic dispersal from South America, either directly or indirectly.

Genera

The family Leiosauridae contains the following genera:
GenusImageType speciesTaxon authorCommon nameSpecies
AnisolepisA. undulatus Boulenger, 1885Tree lizards3
Diplolaemus
D. darwinii
D. darwinii Bell, 1843Bell, 1843Patagonian lizards4
Enyalius
E. catenatus
E. catenatus Wagler, 1830Fathead anoles11
Leiosaurus
L. bellii
L. bellii Duméril & Bibron, 1837Duméril & Bibron, 1837Smooth iguanas4
Pristidactylus
P. achalensis
P. fasciatus Fitzinger, 1843Big-headed iguanas10
UrostrophusU. vautieri Duméril & Bibron, 1837Duméril & Bibron, 1837Steppe iguanas2