Kristin Winchell from the University of Massachusetts and her team investigated male anole lizards (Anolis cristatellus) in Puerto Rican cities of Mayaguez, Ponce and San Juan in comparison to those of nearby forests. Her team were inspired to begin research after she "chased a lizard that ran straight up window 30 feet and was out of reach in 15 seconds".
The results of the findings were that city lizards were found to be able to cling to flat objects, such as walls and windows. This evolved ability means they can use the full urban environment instead of restricting themselves to forest like environments. Another finding was that city lizards had longer limbs with scale like structures referred to as lamellae (which help their toes stick to surfaces). These traits have enabled the lizards to attach themselves to the many slippery surfaces found in an urban scene.
“Urban areas are just another environment,” Winchell says. “The animals that live there aren’t somehow immune to natural selection.” The team also raised urban and forest lizards from the Mayagüez region in the lab and found that differences in limb length and scale number remained, suggesting a genetic basis to the urban lizards’ abilities.
Winchell says understanding urban adaption could help conservation. “Having a grasp on which animals tolerate urbanisation gives us a better idea of which ones we need to focus on when preserving natural habitats,” she says. - New Scientist
This article appeared in print under the headline “Lizard’s feet have evolved to let it race up windowpanes”
The results of the findings were that city lizards were found to be able to cling to flat objects, such as walls and windows. This evolved ability means they can use the full urban environment instead of restricting themselves to forest like environments. Another finding was that city lizards had longer limbs with scale like structures referred to as lamellae (which help their toes stick to surfaces). These traits have enabled the lizards to attach themselves to the many slippery surfaces found in an urban scene.
“Urban areas are just another environment,” Winchell says. “The animals that live there aren’t somehow immune to natural selection.” The team also raised urban and forest lizards from the Mayagüez region in the lab and found that differences in limb length and scale number remained, suggesting a genetic basis to the urban lizards’ abilities.
Winchell says understanding urban adaption could help conservation. “Having a grasp on which animals tolerate urbanisation gives us a better idea of which ones we need to focus on when preserving natural habitats,” she says. - New Scientist
This article appeared in print under the headline “Lizard’s feet have evolved to let it race up windowpanes”