Legless lizard may refer to any of several groups of lizards which have independently lost limbs or reduced them to the point of being of no use in locomotion.^[1] It is the common name for the family Pygopodidae^[2], but often refers to other groups, such as limbless anguids, depending upon the region of the world.^{[citation needed]} These lizards are often distinguishable from snakes on the basis of one or more of the following characteristics: possessing eyelids, possessing external ear openings, lack of broad belly scales, and/or a very long tail (while snakes have a long body and short tail).^[1]

Many families of lizards have independently evolved limblessness or greatly reduced limbs (which are presumably non-functional in locomotion), including the following examples:^[1]

• Anguidae – many limbless species, including genera Ophisaurus and Anguis.
• Cordylidae – genus Chamaesaura.
• Pygopodidae – members of the family are named Legless lizards due to their absent forelimbs and greatly reduced hindlimbs.^[2] These are small flaps without digits, hence the common name "flap-footed lizards".
• Dibamidae – all members of the family are limbless burrowers which are nearly or completely blind.
• Anniellidae – all members of the family are limbless.
• Gymnophthalmidae – Many limbless and nearly-limbless species.
• Scincidae – Many limbless and nearly-limbless species.
• Gerrhosauridae – Several limbless or reduced-limbed species.

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