An unusual subaqueous ventilation behavior that had never before been take care in vertebrates was seen in a lounge lizard by some researchers back in2009 . Unable to delve profoundly into the subject , it skid under the radar of evolutionary biologists until someone else reported a similar behavior adecade subsequently . Now , in a new piece of inquiry put out in the journalCurrent Biology , those same researchers have finally been able-bodied to account for their reflexion in a study centered aroundAnolislizards . Not only were they capable to corroborate that these lizards were using an submerged respiration technique previously only observed in arthropods , but they also establish it was present in all sixAnolisspecies they explore .
The impressive proficiency allows the lounge lizard to last out underwater for a farseeing time thanks to a bubble they give forth that clings to the skin on their nose . This air can then be re - inhaled in conduct the squad has termed “ rebreathing ” , after the scuba - diving apparatus . " Rebreathing had never been considered as a potential natural chemical mechanism for submerged respiration in craniate , " said carbon monoxide - writer Luke Mahler in astatement . " But our employment shows that this is possible and that anole have deploy this strategy repeatedly in species that use aquatic habitats . "
Anolislizards are a genus of anoles ( famous for theirflashy dewlap ) in the family Dactyloidae and are native to the tropical Americas . Some within the genus are semi - aquatic , utilize their impressive diving attainment as a defense mechanism to obviate predators . Upon submerging , they release the air house of cards for rebreathing which can sustain them submerged for up to 18 second . The team was able to affirm that this was due to rebreathing as they could measure the bubbles ’ oxygen substance , which decreased over time .
The cay to the remarkable rebreathing is not this dive , according to the researcher , but most potential the Anolis carolinensis ’ hydrophobic skin structure . “ All anole lizards have piddle - resistant skin , ” Mahler told IFLScience . “ As a result , even species that do n’t plunk during the normal class of their lives will develop a flimsy film of air travel over their ordered series if you duck them in water ( giving them a “ quicksilver ” appearance ) . We still have much to hear about what reach anole skin so waterproof . It likely has to do with the social structure and transcription of the scales , but we do n’t know that yet for certain . "
A video recording shoot byDay ’s Edge Productions(who worked with the investigator ) gives a decent mind as to why this behavior evolved . When endanger by approaching camera operator , the anoles swiftly hurled themselves into the air before slop down in the water . Being able to remain submerged for a retentive time was likely a boon for survival , as predators might get bored and move on rather than wait out the bubble .
“ As for the bound , that ’s simply a nice hefty escape response , " Mahler said . " They ’re good jumpers , which is frustrating when you ’re seek to study them ! This impressive leap was probably in reply to an approaching scientist or television camera - person . ”
An unbelievable evolutionary exploit , but one we imagine was a actual pain in the seat to canvas , photograph and moving-picture show . So , what was it all for ? Beyond its pedantic value to evolutionary biologists , it ’s possible the mechanisms that corroborate this rebreathing behaviour could be rule for human innovations , such as the rebreather aqualung - diving setup the deportment was named after . But , as Mahler explained , reach detailed and applicable sixth sense will first require physiological experiments in a lab setting .
