The family Teiidae is comprised of 40 genera (including both macro and microteiids, which are sometimes considered separate families) and around 245 species (again for both macro and microteiids) that range from North, Central, and South America (Pough et al. 1998).  The Western Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris) is the only species of the family Teiidae.  Lizards in this family are found in a wide range of habitats and have a wide range of body forms.  All Teiids have forked snake-like tongues, and several different species have parthenogenic reproduction (Pough et al. 1998).