The family Anguidae is comprised of 15 genera and around 102 species (Pough et al. 1998).  They are mainly distributed in separated regions of North, Central and South America, and portions of Africa and Asia (Goin and Goin 1971, Pough et al. 1998).  Several species of lizards in this family have reduced or absent limbs and both oviparous and viviparous reproductive modes are present, sometimes within the same genus.  In fact, the Idaho representative, Elgaria coerulea (Northern Alligator Lizard) is viviparous giving live birth, while the Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is oviparous.