Added 29 December 2024.
The Diploglossidae were formerly considered part of the family Anuguidae, but were made a fully family on their own right on the basis of genetic evidence. In addition, while originally there were just the three genera (Celestus, Diploglossus and Ophiodes), there are now three subfamilies with a total between them of three genera.
The distribution of the Diploglossidae is centred on Central America, South America and the Caribbean, with most genera being found in Hispaniola.
In form, diploglossid lizards superficially resemble largeish, brightly-coloured skinks. They are terrestrial in habit.
For some reason these lizards seem very underrepresented in herpetoculture.
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Subfamily Celestinae: |
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Advenus, Mountain Forest Galliwasp |
Caribicus, Hispaniolan Giant Galliwasps |
Celestus, Jamaican Galliwasps |
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Guarocuyus, Jaragua Forest Lizard |
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Sauresia, Four-Toed Galliwasp |
Wetmorena, Earless Galliwasps |
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Subfamily Diploglossae: |
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Mesoamericus, O'Shaughnessy's Galliwasp |
Ophiodes, Worm Lizards |
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Subfamily Siderolamprinae: |
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Siderolamprus, Galliwasps |
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Genus |
Common Name |
No. of species |
Location |
Notes |
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Subfamily Celestinae |
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Mountain Forest Galliwasp |
1 |
Panama |
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Hispaniolan Giant Galliwasps |
2 |
Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) |
Also one possibly extinct species |
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Jamaican Galliwasps |
8 |
Mostly Jamaica |
Also three possibly extinct species. |
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3 |
West Indies |
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Jaragua Forest Lizard |
1 |
Dominican Republic |
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3 |
Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) |
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Four-Toed Galliwasp |
1 |
Hispaniola |
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Earless Galliwasps |
2 |
Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) |
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Subfamily Diploglossae |
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10 |
South America, West Indies |
Fingers and toes end in large scales that form a sheath over the claw, which is seldom fully exposed [Walls]. |
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O'Shaughnessy's Galliwasp |
1 |
Central America |
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Worm Lizards |
6 |
South America |
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Subfamily Siderolamprinae |
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Galliwasps |
14 |
Central America |
Genus revived for species formerly found in Celestus and Diploglossus. |
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Bibliography - Diploglossidae
There seems to be no one single work (at least outside academic circles) dealing with the family Diploglossidae in its entirety. Field guides doubtlessly carry details of local species.
Index of diploglossid-related articles from herpetological magazines.
Echsen [Lizards] Vol 2, Rogner, Ullmer Verlag, 1992. Usually a very good source of information, although it has been pointed out to me by one source in at least one section there was a "theoretical" guess as to the captive requirements of a particular species that is in reality very hard to keep alive. Nevertheless Rogner seems to offer quite useful advice on some of the Galliwasps. This book (and Vol 1) are available in English translation, but are substantially more expensive than most reptile husbandry books available from English-language publishing houses.
"The Mysterious Galliwasps", Jerry G Walls, Reptile & Amphibian Hobbyist 7:2 (October 2001). Useful and informative article on what was then the Subfamily Diploglossae, giving details of the taxonomic confusion and also of some of the individual species. There are also suggestions on finding out a suitable terrarium setup for a captive diploglossid whose origins are uncertain (trial and error, basically) and a useful key on distinguishing diploglossids from similar-looking New World skinks.
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