Hidden Art in Nature: Newly Discovered Lizard Species Resembles Van Gogh’s Famous Painting “The Starry Night”
You’ve probably seen nature depicted in art, but how often do you see an artwork hiding in nature? When they saw the back of a…
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 6,000 species ranging across all continents except Antarctica. They vary significantly in size, color, and shape, from the tiny 16 mm long dwarf gecko to the 3 meter long Komodo dragon. Most lizards have scaly skin, external ear openings, and, unlike snakes, typically have four legs (though some, like the glass lizard, are legless). These reptiles are known for their ability to adapt to various environments, from deserts to forests. Lizards are mostly carnivorous, feeding on insects and other small animals, but some species are omnivorous or herbivorous. Many lizards have unique survival features, such as the ability to change color, detach their tails to escape predators, and, in some cases, glide through the air. Lizards play significant roles in their ecosystems as both predators and prey, and they are often studied for their adaptations and behaviors that reflect their evolutionary success.
You’ve probably seen nature depicted in art, but how often do you see an artwork hiding in nature? When they saw the back of a…
Body shape, color, and behavior often evolve together as species adapt to their environment. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have studied this phenomenon in…
A newly discovered iguana species adds to Asia’s diverse reptile population, having been formally recognized in the scientific community through its description in the open-access…
Long-term lizard observation challenges the conventional understanding of natural selection, suggesting species can remain consistent in appearance while still undergoing evolution. Many species experience little…
By lassoing lizards, putting tiny chips on their legs, and tracking them for three years, Georgia Tech’s James Stroud revealed why species often appear unchanged…
A fossil discovery from Scotland has provided new information on the early evolution of lizards, during the time of the dinosaurs. The tiny skeleton discovered…
Scientists have found that a key modern group of reptiles that includes lizards and snakes – known as squamates – diverged in the Jurassic period,…
A multidisciplinary team has succeeded in explaining the complex distribution of scales in the ocellated lizard by means of a simple equation. The shape-shifting clouds…
When it comes to studying lungs, humans take up all the air, but it turns out scientists have a lot to learn from lizards. A…
More than 120 million years ago in what is now modern Brazil, an ancient waterway was filled with all manner of strange creatures. These included…
UW Oshkosh vertebrate paleontologist on research team. Two tiny new species that inhabited part of what is now the American south some 100 million years…
Soft perching robot validates the benefit of having a fifth leg. Geckos’ impressive climbing abilities give them agility rarely surpassed in nature. With their highly…
Scientists find another use for lizards’ versatile tails: stabilization after headfirst crashes. A gecko’s tail is a wondrous and versatile thing. In more than 15…
Many lizards are phenomenal climbers. Their sharp, curved claws are ideal for clinging to tree trunks, rocks, and other rough surfaces. However, in the precarious…
A study published June 16, 2021, in Biotropica by a team of researchers at the University of Washington, the UW Burke Museum of Natural History…
Australian reptiles face serious conservation threats from illegal poaching fueled by international demand and the exotic pet trade. In a new study published in Animal…
A team of evolutionary biologists including faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York have shown that some Anolis lizards, or anoles, have adapted…
A team of evolutionary biologists from the University of Toronto has shown that Anolis lizards, or anoles, are able to breathe underwater with the aid…