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Xenosauridae
The Mexican/Central American family of knobby or bark lizards is an unusual group probably related to the Anguidae. The
bodies of these lizards are stocky and flattened, covered above with small pebble-like tubercles, and below with regular rows
of rectangular plates. The head is massive, also flattened, and strongly triangular in shape. There are no moving eyelids, and
the ear is concealed beneath the skin, or is very tiny. [eng]
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Xenosauridae
The Xenosauridae consist of the Central American genus Xenosaurus and of two fossil North American genera, Exostinus and Restes, which are very close to
Xenosaurus. The status of the Chinese genus Shinisaurus is not completely clear. However, Macey et al. (1999) recently suggested to split the Xenosauridae into two
separate families, the Sinisauridae and Xenosauridae, because of DNA sequence differences.Xenosaurids are rock-dwelling lizards. All species are diurnal and
viviparous. Shinisaurus is special in that it is semi-aquatic and is known to feed on tadpoles and fish. [eng]
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