Tag Archives: lizards

An Australian lizard in the same genus as the komodo dragon has been found harboring secret bone chainmail under their scaly skin. Goannas – a name that encompasses several Australian species – are not the only monitor lizards with this fascinating adaptation, either. A wild new study has found tens of monitor lizard species sporting hidden osteoderms; tiny bones that …

Monitor lizards, also known in Australia as goannas, are some of the most iconic reptiles on the continent. Their lineage not only survived the mass extinction that ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs, but also gave rise to the largest living lizards on Earth. Today, these formidable creatures pace through forests and scrublands, flicking their tongues as they go. A …