A particular type of semi-aquatic lizard has something truly unique to show us about the art of survival with air bubbles underwater.

In the tropical forests of southern Costa Rica, a small, semi-aquatic lizard has evolved an unusual survival technique. Water anoles create a bubble over their nostrils to breathe underwater and avoid predators,

Animals have evolved all manner of methods to evade danger. For one lizard species living in the tropical forests of Costa Rica, their unique escape tactic involves a makeshift oxygen tank that allows them to hide underwater nearly as long as the Guinness World Record for a human holding their breath.

What's scaly, striped and breathes underwater like a scuba diver? Water anoles! These lizards can form a bubble over their head to support breathing underwater. They're found in the tropical forests of southern Costa Rica.

New research reveals that scuba-diving lizards, described as "the chicken nuggets of the forest," use a bubble to breathe underwater

"Lizard skin is hydrophobic. Typically, that allows air to stick very tightly to the skin and permits this bubble to form," explains Swierk. "But when you cover the skin with an emollient, air no longer sticks to the skin surface, so the bubbles can't form."

The assistant research professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University studies Anolis aquaticus, the lizard best known for being semi-aquatic, color-changing and 5 to 8 inches long (13 to 20 centimeters.

Binghamton, United States - September 17, 2024 In a discovery that could redefine our understanding of animal behavior in aquatic environments, researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York,