No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeMeet Costa Rica’s Diving Lizard: The Anole’s Incredible Underwater Survival

Meet Costa Rica’s Diving Lizard: The Anole’s Incredible Underwater Survival

Costa Rica is home to thousands of unique animal species, many of which captivate scientists from around the world. Among these fascinating creatures is the anole lizard, a small, semi-aquatic reptile that inhabits the country’s lush rainforests.

Recently, Lindsey Swierk, an assistant research professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University in New York, conducted groundbreaking research on the remarkable abilities of these lizards, often referred to as “diving lizards.”

The anole lizard is known for its incredible survival tactics, particularly its ability to evade predators by diving underwater and using a bubble of air as a makeshift scuba helmet. This bubble, which forms on the top of the lizard’s head, allows the reptile to remain submerged for extended periods, making it nearly invisible to predators.

“Diving underwater and remaining there for a long time is an anti-predator strategy for water anoles. These lizards aren’t particularly speedy, and taking to the water is a very effective option. It’s easy to disappear from a predator’s eye once you hide underwater for a few minutes,” Dr. Swierk explained.

Dr. Swierk’s research captured this fascinating behavior in a video, showing the anole breathing out and re-inhaling air pockets while submerged. She first noticed this unique adaptation while walking along mountain streams in Costa Rica, observing the lizards dive and remain underwater for surprising lengths of time.

According to her findings, published in Biology Letters, the lizard’s bubble system may allow it to extract oxygen while submerged. Swierk theorizes that additional air pockets are trapped around the lizard’s head and throat, enabling it to exchange and refresh the air within the bubble—much like a scuba diver’s air tank.

Dr. Swierk conducted further experiments to test whether the bubble had a functional role in respiration or was simply a byproduct of the lizard’s skin properties. By applying a substance to the lizards’ skin that prevented bubble formation, she observed that those in a control group—able to form bubbles—could stay underwater 32% longer than those with impaired bubble production.

“This is the first experiment that truly shows the adaptive significance of bubbles. Rebreathing bubbles allow lizards to stay underwater longer. Before, we suspected it, but we didn’t actually test if it served a functional role,” Swierk added.

Swierk’s lab plans to conduct several types of follow-up research on the “bubble-breathing” observation.

Trending Now

Costa Rican Congressman Faces Sexual Abuse Allegations from 2006

Fabricio Alvarado, a sitting congressman and presidential hopeful for the New Republic Party, now contends with a formal complaint accusing him of sexually abusing...

Costa Rica Ranger Trapped After Falling off Cliff on Cocos Island

Rescue teams in Costa Rica continue their efforts to save a park ranger who fell down a 40-meter cliff on Isla del Coco. The...

Celebrate 128 Years of Costa Rica’s National Theater

The National Theater turns 128 this month, and starting Sunday, October 12, it opens its doors for a week of events that mix music,...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...

Costa Rica Coast Guard Seizes Illegal Gillnets in Protected Refuge

Costa Rican Coast Guard officers pulled nearly a kilometer of illegal gillnets from protected waters in the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge during...

Riu Guanacaste Hotel Reopens in Costa Rica After Renovation

The Riu Guanacaste hotel in Costa Rica has reopened after a complete renovation, welcoming guests back to its beachfront spot on Matapalo Beach. The...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica