Adaptive Survival Strategy
Water anoles, small semiaquatic lizards from and , have evolved a unique bubble-breathing technique, allowing them to stay submerged for extended periods to escape predators. This adaptation significantly increases their underwater survival time.
Researchers confirm that these lizards can stay underwater up to 18 minutes by rebreating air trapped in bubbles formed around their nostrils, a behavior first documented in 2021 but recently tested for its functional significance.
Experimental Insights and Broader Implications
In controlled experiments, water anoles with bubble production impaired by a substance stayed underwater 32% less time, proving the functional role of bubble-breathing in extending their submerged duration.
This discovery not only highlights an innovative survival strategy among vertebrates but also opens avenues for further research into the evolutionary and ecological implications of such adaptations in other species.