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Hold the scuba: These lizards can breathe underwater
by Mongabay.com on 28 May 2021
Researchers recently discovered that several species of semi-aquatic anole lizards can breathe underwater or rebreathe for up to 18 minutes.
They observed that anoles have hydrophobic skin that allows a thin layer of air to form around their bodies when they dive underwater, which they believe aids their rebreathing process.
When the anoles exhale underwater, a bubble of air forms over their snout and then goes back into their nostrils when they inhale.
The researchers believe that anoles evolved to rebreathe underwater to avoid predators, although more research is needed to confirm this.
These lizards use bubbles to breathe underwater
Semi-aquatic anoles have a nifty trick for extending their underwater escapades.
ByDouglas Main
Email
Aquatic insects and other invertebrates are well known for carrying bubbles underwater for respiration. Now scientists have found tropical lizards that also “breathe” underwater this way a first-of-its kind discovery.
New research shows that a dozen species of Caribbean and Latin American anoles, a type of lizard, can exhale air to create large, oxygen-filled bubbles that cling to their head. The anoles were seen periodically inflating the bubbles and then drawing them back in through their noses so to test if they use these bubbles to breathe, scientists observed the reptiles staying underwater for more than 15 minutes, according to a paper published May 12 in the journal