The Western Fence Lizard

There’s Something About Lizard Blood

The blood of western fence lizards has the ability to neutralize Lyme disease in ticks—so why aren’t scientists bottling it to sell at the grocery store?
Hypsilurus papuensis Papua Forest Dragon

Reptiles Need Your Love, Especially Now

A new study from Oxford and Tel Aviv universities found reptiles are underrepresented in conservation efforts, just in time for Reptile Awareness Day.
Komodo dragon in Indonesia.

The Mysteries of Komodo Dragons

Antibiotics and other medical treatments often come from offbeat sources, but researchers in Virginia have found some promising ...
Ernst Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur depicts a horned Texas lizard

The Craziest Ways Animals Escape Their Predators

From shedding skin to making slime to shooting blood out of their eyes, these animals have defense mechanisms that are convincing, to say the least.
Fire Salamander

Earth, Wind, and Fire Salamanders

Fire Salamanders' unusual connection to pharmacy
Chameleon in profile perched on a branch

Move Over, Camouflage. Here Comes Artificial Chameleon Skin

Engineers have developed a new chameleon-like material that changes color with a slight movement, according to research published in the journal Optical.
An orange and cream lizard tilts its head and tail up

Animal Penises Can Tell Us a Lot About Evolution

There is a surprisingly large body of work regarding animal penis evolution.
A Giant Salamander sticks out his neck

Within The Animal Kingdom, Sometimes Father Knows Best

Who’s your daddy? If you’re a giant salamander, he’s the one who fanned your nest with his tail, of course.
A lizard with dewlap extended sitting on a rock

When Faced with Competition, Florida Lizards Simply Evolve Faster

When faced with an invasive competitor, Florida anole lizards took only 15 years to evolve a response.