Meanwhile, basilisk lizards in the genus Basiliscus from Central and South America run so fast on their hind legs that they can run on water, with the help of specialized foot scales. They do this to escape predators, and it's earned them the nickname "Jesus Christ lizard," according to...
While the tortoises have been hibernating, Mike has been...Mike. Superciliously soaking up what sun there is, deigning to allow me to run his baths, he is his usual self. Except that as the days slowly get a bit longer every day, his nostrils are just starting to show the faint rus...
For example, species that use broad tree trunks near the ground tend to have long hindlimbs, which they use to run quickly and jump great distances. In contrast, species that use narrow twigs high in the trees have very short legs and tend to creep very slowly to capture prey and escape...
Tree-dwelling, fast-climbing species have long, delicately jointed legs — especially the tibia (shinbone). These lizards have extremely long feet and long toes, which are armed with sharp claws. There may also be fringes of skin on the toes that enable the lizard to run on its two hind...
Overall, our results show that runners and climbers have the same cost of transport on level terrain, although climbers run at a slower speed. Contrary to our hypothesis, the cost of transport is not higher in the climbers running on a level surface. Nevertheless, it is possible that the lo...
Some lizards have developed long legs and a dance move that helps them avoid being possibly eaten alive by lethal fire ants. Fire ants from South America, calledSolenopsis invicta, were introduced to the United States accidentally in the 1930s. The pesky creatures are known to attack so-called...
run on the surface, he rebuilt the pond inside his house and, voila, the amazing fold-out spread in the center of the book showing the lizard at three stop-action moments as it skips across the surface on it's hindllegs with water droplets scattering and forelegs stretched out to the ...
Basilisks are great runners. When in danger, these lizards start running upright on their back legs. They can even run fast enough to walk, or run really, on water. This has caused them to be referred to as the “Jesus Christ Lizard”. ...
Heavily armoured species are bulky, have short legs and run more slowly than less armoured species. Rather than constituting an alternative to behavioural antipredator tactics, we conclude that the possession of armour is part of an antipredator syndrome that includes habitat use and behaviour as ...
“Evolution can and does happen — it’s this ongoing process, but it doesn’t necessarily mean things are constantly changing in the long run,” Stroud said. “Now we know that even if animals appear to be staying the same, evolution is still happening.” ...