A third group comprises the cosmopolitan Scincidae, the African and Malagasy Gerrhosauridae which in various features remind us of the Anguidae, and the African and Eurasian Lacertidae which are the highest members of this group. Anelytropidae and perhaps also Dibamidae may be degraded Scincoids.
The temporal region is covered over, as in the Lacertidae and Anguidae, with strongly developed dermal ossifications.
Tongue long, with papillae, like that of the Lacertidae but only feebly nicked anteriorly.
The Lacertidae or true lizards comprise about 20 genera, with some 1 00 species, most abundant in Africa; their northern limit coincides.