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Gymnophthalmoidea lizards inhabit in Central and South America from lowlands to highland Andes. This clade presents species with different body plans; lacertiform species exhibit short and robust bodies and well-developed limbs whereas serpentiform species have elongate bodies and limb reduction. Between these two extreme body plans, we found intermediate forms such as Anadia bogotensis, with a less elongated body and limbs fully developed but not very robust. We describe the embryonic development of Anadia bogotensis, and compare it with serpentiform species of Gymnophthalmidae, and lacertiform species of Teiidae and Alopoglossidae. We found differences in the development time in somites and limbs. With respect to lacertiform species, there is an accelerated development of somites in serpentiform gymnophthalmids, which is involved in body elongation. Besides, hypomorphosis is the heterochronic perturbation involved in limb reduction. Therefore, there are differences in the development time of different structures, which are related to the evolution of body plans in Gymnophthalmoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]