Remarkable Scottish Fossil Uncovers Clues to the Origins of Lizards
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…
Lizard News
Overlooked “Jurassic Park of Lizards” Discovered by Researchers
Scientists have found that a key modern group of reptiles that includes lizards and snakes – known as squamates – diverged in the Jurassic period,…
Secret of Lizard Camouflage: A Simple Mathematical Equation
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…
Stress Ball Morphogenesis: Humble Lizards Offer Surprising Approach to Engineering Artificial Lungs
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…
A Fossil of a Bizarre Snake-Like Lizard Has Generated Controversy Beyond Its Identity
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…
Discovery of New Tiny Fish and Lizard Species in Southwest Arkansas
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…
Benefit of Having a Fifth Leg: Geckos Glide, Crash-Land, but Don’t Fall
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…
These Incredible Geckos Crash-Land on Rainforest Trees but Don’t Fall, Thanks to Their Tails
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…
Remarkable Evolutionary Accessory: Sticky Toes Unlock Life in the Trees
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…
New DNA Analysis Provides Critical Information on Conserving Rainforest Lizards
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…
Stopping the Illegal Trade of Australian Reptiles
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…
“Scuba-Diving” Lizards Use Bubble Attached to Snout to Breathe Underwater for Up to 16 Minutes
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…
Evolutionary Biologists Just Discovered How Some Lizards Are Able to Breathe Underwater
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…
Evolved to Strike Terror: Paleontologists Identify New Species of Mosasaur
Ancient lizard’s long, crocodile-like snout suggests it carved out a niche in a competitive marine ecosystem. A new species of an ancient marine reptile evolved…
A Tale of Two Iguanas: New Species Found Hiding in Plain Sight
This is the tale of two iguanas. Or five iguanas and counting, if you prefer. Bear with us, because this isn’t straightforward. For a long…
Rare Lizard Fossil Provides Important Clues on How Fossils Stay Preserved for Millions of Years
Researchers at the University of Bonn are investigating the conservation status of the reptile, which is up to 20 million years old. The tiny forefoot…
Link Between Individual Variation in Risk-Taking Behavior and Survival Revealed
For more than a century, scientists have understood that natural selection has profound effects on how an animal looks. Anole lizards that spend more time…
Fossil Discovery Shows Giant Reptiles Coexisted with Mammals
Paleontologists discovered the fossil remains of a giant lizard, Barbaturex morrisoni, which coexisted with mammals in the hot tropical forests of Southeast Asia some 40…
