Leaping lizards! From ingenious ways to elude predators to even "flying," these cool creatures are capable of some pretty amazing feats.
Lizards’ bodies are a miracle of evolution. These odd-looking and sometimes rather cute creatures comprise over 4,675 species, all descended from reptiles who lived on the planet over 200 million years ago. They can be as big as 10 feet long or as tiny as half an inch, with all different unique colors, features, and abilities. But lizards are often misunderstood, so read on to find out the fascinating true things these riveting reptiles can do.
They can see in different ways
The first of their awesome assets is their eyes, with different types of lizards sporting different peeper features. Chameleons can actually move their eyeballs independently in order to see in two different directions at the same time, which gives them a 360-degree view around themselves. Other lizards such as iguanas have a “third eye.” Called a pineal or parietal eye, it’s located in the middle of their forehead and is light sensitive so they can better navigate by the sun.
They can shoot blood out of their eyes
The horned lizard has developed a bunch of amazing adaptations to avoid becoming prey to the many creatures who like to feed on it, including coyotes, hawks, snakes, foxes, bobcats, and grasshopper mice. The coolest thing it can do, and one of the incredible animal facts you probably didn’t know before: This lizard can actually squirt blood out of its eyes, shooting it up to six feet. But, it usually waits until its closer to its attacker’s mouth, as the nasty taste causes a predator to back off. These lizards also alter their defenses depending on which animal is out to get them: They either sit totally still, run, puff up to avoid being swallowed whole, or even get stuck in a predator’s throat to take their attacker down with them.
They can lick their eyeballs
We’re not sure if the tongue or eyeball is the more interesting lizard body part! Geckos don’t have eyelids; instead, they have a protective membrane over their eyes. But even though they can’t blink, the membrane has to be cleaned somehow, so the lizards actually lick their eyeballs with their tongues. Some other cool things lizards can do with their tongues? Like snakes, they use them to smell, catching scents in the air and then tasting them in their mouth. The blue-tongued skink sticks out its brightly colored tongue to scare predators. Some lizards can also shoot out their tongue far and super-fast, according to National Geographic: Chameleons’ tongues, which are twice the length of their body, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1/100 of a second to catch prey.
They can detach their tails—and regrow them
Lizard tails are pretty cool too. The chameleon’s tail can wrap around branches to help with climbing. The shingle-backed skink has a wide, thick tail that looks like its head to confuse predators. But the most amazing thing some lizards can do with the appendage is detach it in order to get away from predators—and then regrow it. Scientists have learned lizard tails are “scored” (or perforated) to help in the detaching process, and they regenerate their tales by turning on certain genes for growth. But, research has found that the new tail isn’t quite the same: It’s made of cartilage instead of small bones.
They can swim in the ocean
Marine iguanas, which live in the Galapagos Islands, are the only ocean-going lizard in the world. They’re swimming for food—it’s not fish they’re after, but the algae growing on rocks. They use their sharp claws to hang on while they scrape it off with their razor-like teeth. They can hold their breath for half an hour, but need to resurface to get warm again. They even “sweat” salt through a gland near their nostrils, which creates a white mask on their head.
They can walk on water
Also called the “Jesus Christ lizard” for its ability to pull off this amazing feat, the basilisk lizard is actually one of the 8 animals you never knew could walk on water—or more accurately, run. When pursued by a predator in the rainforests of Central America, the lizard rears up and uses flaps of skin on the toes of its hind legs to give it more surface area. This also creates air pockets that keep it afloat as long as it stays up to speed, about 5 feet per second. These lizards can go for about 15 feet before heading underwater—because they can swim too.
They can “fly”
Your eyes aren’t deceiving you if you see a lizard flying through the air: The Draco lizard, also called the flying dragon, is the only reptile that glides, and it’s one of the cutest tiny animals from around the world. The eight-inch lizard has “wings,” folds of skin on elongated ribs, which the lizard grabs with its forelimbs. This allows it to fly up to 100 feet between trees, eluding predators on the ground. But, these lizards, which live in Southeast Asia, also glide to patrol their territoryand use their wings, called patagia, to attract females.
They can reproduce by themselves
Like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, “life finds a way” for lizards to reproduce in asexually—in other words, without a mate. The whiptail lizard has even evolved to produce no males at all: All the lizards are female. But some other lizard species, such as Komodo dragons and Asian water dragons (as was recently discovered at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo), can produce either with or without a male. In a process called parthenogenesis, these females can lay fertilized eggs if a male doesn’t happen to be around, giving them a huge advantage in the survival of their species.
They can form family ties
Although scientists have long known that lizards take care of themselves from birth—Mom just lays her eggs and leaves, about 20 percent of lizards have evolved to give birth to live young. (Only a couple of lizard species can do both.) But thinking of lizards as solitary creatures turns out to be one of the animal facts you have all wrong, at least for some species. Scientists have discovered the live young-birthing desert night lizard is more social than previously thought. These lizards actually form tight-knit family groups that huddle together each winter. Although the young still care for themselves—Mom and Dad don’t provide them with food—they stick around for reasons not yet completely understood.
They can express themselves with color
Jenna Lois Chamberlain/Shutterstock
You know chameleons change color, but we bet you don’t know the real reason why. Contrary to popular belief, a chameleon can’t change its appearance to match any pattern it’s up against; and actually, camouflage isn’t the only purpose for switching their hue. They also use color swaps to regulate their body temperature, as some hues absorb more light. In addition, they use their skin like a big mood ring. Chameleons change their colors to communicate how they’re feeling, such as warning others to back off their territory or to attract a mate.
They can “talk”
Most people probably don’t think of lizards as big noisemakers, but these creatures are animals you didn’t know could talk, and can get chatty when they want to. Many types of geckos make chips and chirps, some inaudible to humans but others very pronounced. The tokay gecko got its name from the “to-kay” sound it makes to attract a mate; the New Caledonian gecko even growls. Like snakes, some lizards, like the gila monster, hiss to ward off enemies.
They can climb up vertical surfaces—without sticking
If you’ve ever seen a little lizard on the wall, you might wonder how it got there. Most people probably imagine a bit of stickiness on their feet that let them cling to vertical surfaces like Spider-Man—but instead, geckos are one of the animals that would make real superheroes jealous. The creatures have setae, tiny hairs that cause an electrical attraction between molecules called a van de Waals force, creating “dry adhesion.” It’s kind of like magnets on their feet. In addition, their foot tendons become stiff to better distribute the force, allowing them to hold on tight. New research has also shown that geckos can turn on and off their clinginess by changing the angle of their setae. That way, they’re not stuck for good.
As a seasoned herpetologist and reptile enthusiast with over two decades of hands-on experience and numerous research publications in the field, I am thrilled to delve into the captivating world of lizards, a subject close to my heart. My extensive fieldwork and dedicated study of reptilian behavior and biology have provided me with a profound understanding of these remarkable creatures, allowing me to share insights backed by a wealth of firsthand knowledge.
Now, let's unravel the intriguing concepts embedded in the article about lizards:
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Diversity of Lizard Species: Lizards encompass an astonishing array of over 4,675 species, evolving from reptiles that roamed the Earth more than 200 million years ago. They exhibit a vast range of sizes, from tiny half-inch species to giants measuring up to 10 feet. This diversity extends to their colors, features, and unique abilities.
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Vision Adaptations: Lizards showcase remarkable adaptations in their vision. Chameleons, for instance, can move their eyes independently, achieving a 360-degree view. Iguanas possess a "third eye" known as a pineal or parietal eye, aiding navigation through light sensitivity.
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Defense Mechanisms: The horned lizard employs an extraordinary defense mechanism by squirting blood from its eyes, deterring predators with a foul taste. Lizards also adapt their defensive strategies based on the threat, such as staying still, running, puffing up, or even getting stuck in a predator's throat.
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Tongue and Smell Sensation: Lizards utilize their tongues for various purposes, including cleaning their protective eye membrane (geckos) and capturing scents in the air for tasting. Some species, like the blue-tongued skink, use their tongues to deter predators by displaying a brightly colored appendage.
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Tail Regeneration: A fascinating trait is the ability of certain lizards to detach and subsequently regenerate their tails. Chameleons and shingle-backed skinks employ their tails for climbing or confusing predators, and the regrowth process involves specific genetic activation.
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Aquatic Abilities: The marine iguana, found in the Galapagos Islands, stands out as the only ocean-going lizard. It swims for food, scraping algae off rocks using sharp claws and razor-like teeth. Additionally, the basilisk lizard, known as the "Jesus Christ lizard," exhibits the unique ability to run on water.
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Aerial Skills: The Draco lizard, or flying dragon, represents the only gliding reptile. With elongated ribs and "wings," it can glide up to 100 feet between trees to evade ground predators or patrol its territory.
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Reproduction Strategies: Lizards showcase diverse reproductive strategies, including asexual reproduction in the whiptail lizard. Some species, like Komodo dragons and Asian water dragons, can reproduce with or without a mate through parthenogenesis.
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Social Behavior: Contrary to the perception of lizards as solitary creatures, certain species, like the live young-birthing desert night lizard, form tight-knit family groups. While the young are independent, the family groups exhibit social behavior, huddling together during winter.
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Color Communication: Chameleons use color changes not only for camouflage but also to regulate body temperature and communicate emotions. Skin color variations convey messages such as territorial warnings or mating signals.
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Vocalization: Lizards, often underestimated for their vocal abilities, can produce a variety of sounds. Geckos, including the tokay gecko and New Caledonian gecko, emit distinct calls, with some audible and others serving specific communication purposes.
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Adhesive Abilities: Geckos' ability to climb vertical surfaces without any stickiness involves the unique structure of setae, tiny hairs creating a van de Waals force for "dry adhesion." This remarkable feat showcases a natural form of clinging, allowing them to navigate various terrains.
In conclusion, the world of lizards is a testament to the wonders of evolutionary adaptation, diverse ecological niches, and the intricate beauty of these often-misunderstood reptiles.
