3-legged lizards can thrive against all odds, challenging assumptions about how evolution works in the wild

3-legged lizards can thrive against all odds, challenging assumptions about how evolution works in the wild

A brown basilisk missing both its entire left forearm and part of its right hind limb. Brian HillenWe are lizard biologists, and to do our work we need to catch lizards – never an easy task with such fast, agile creatures. Years ago, one of us was in the Bahamas chasing a typically uncooperative lizard across dense and narrow branches, frustrated that its nimble agility was thwarting efforts to catch it. Only when finally captured did we discove…

3-legged lizards can thrive against all odds, challenging assumptions about how evolution works in the wild - Tech and Science Post

We are lizard biologists, and to do our work we need to catch lizards – never an easy task with such fast, agile creatures. Years ago, one of us was in the Bahamas chasing a typically uncooperative lizard across dense and narrow branches, frustrated that its nimble agility was thwarting efforts to catch it. Only when finally captured did we discover this wily brown anole was missing its entire left hind leg. This astonishing observation set our …