A groundbreaking study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society reveals that nearly half of all lizard genera possess ancient bony structures called osteoderms, which were previously thought to be rare or absent. Osteoderms are chain mail-like plates embedded in an animal’s skin and detached from its main skeleton.
Researchers led by Roy Ebel used advanced imaging techniques, including micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), to analyze specimens from museum collections and identified osteoderms on 29 Australo-Papuan goanna species. This discovery significantly expands our understanding of reptile evolution and suggests that osteoderms evolved as a response to environmental pressures.
The study found that osteoderms are present in animals such as crocodiles, armadillos, and some lizards, but their purpose remains debated among scientists. Physical protection, mobility, heat regulation, and calcium storage during reproduction have been proposed as possible functions of osteoderms.
This research has far-reaching implications for the study of lizard skin and its role in survival. The discovery of osteoderms on hundreds of species challenges previous estimates and opens up new avenues for investigation into the evolution and function of these ancient structures.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-odd-bony-structures-were-hiding-beneath-the-skin-of-far-more-lizards-than-thought-researchers-find-180987023