Anniellids
|An-ni-el-lids|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.iˈɛl.ɪdz/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.iˈel.ɪdz/
(Anniellid)
legless lizard of the family Anniellidae
Etymology
'Anniellid' is formed from the genus name 'Anniella' (a New Latin taxonomic name) plus the English taxonomic suffix '-id'/'-idae' indicating belonging to a group.
The New Latin family name 'Anniellidae' (used in scientific classification) gave rise to the English common-form name 'Anniellid(s)' for individual members of that family.
Originally used in scientific contexts to denote taxa related to the genus 'Anniella', the term has been adopted in English as a common name for those legless lizards and now commonly refers to individual animals as well as the group.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
members of the family Anniellidae — small, burrowing legless lizards (genus Anniella and related genera) native to parts of western North America and nearby regions.
Anniellids inhabit loose, sandy soils where they burrow to avoid predators and extreme temperatures.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/21 22:12