Lizards losing limbs at rapid rate
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008 00:01
The small lizards are losing limbs at a rapid rate
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A species of small lizard is undergoing a dramatic evolutionary change by losing its limbs at a rapid rate, new research claims.
A study published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology today suggests that the small skink lizards, the Lerista, have demonstrated extensive changes in body shape over geologically brief periods.
The research claims that several species of the lizard have rapidly evolved "an elongate, limbless body form".
"It is believed that skinks are losing their limbs because they spend most of their lives swimming through sand or soil; limbs are not only unnecessary for this, but may actually be a hindrance," the lead author of the study, Adam Skinner, from the University of Adelaide, said.
Researchers performed a genetic analysis of the lizards to investigate the pattern and rate of limb reduction.
They found that evolution of a snake-like body form has occurred very rapidly and without any evidence of reversals.
"At the highest rate, complete loss of limbs is estimated to have occurred within 3.6 million years," Mr Skinner added.
The authors claim that compared to similarly dramatic evolutionary changes in, the rate is "blisteringly fast".