Researchers are just beginning to understand the enigmatic life of the earless lizard in Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia.
The earless lizard is a rare dragon-like reptile, earning it the nickname “Holy Grail” in herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians).
Two earless lizards (Lanthanotus borneensis). (Photo: Getty Images/Reptiles4all).
This species is the only known member of the family Lanthanotidae. This means that researchers have yet to find any other living species similar to it today. The most recent common ancestor of this lizard is believed to have diverged during the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago).
The earless lizard can grow up to 50 cm long, with a slender body, small limbs, and a tail that can gather all kinds of information. Its head lacks external ears, which is why they are nicknamed earless lizards, and their lower eyelids close when underwater.
According to a 2014 report by TRAFFIC, a wildlife organization focused on the trade of wild species, scientists still do not know much about this mysterious lizard, but they believe its adaptations are suited for an underground lifestyle.
As noted in a 2013 article published in the Herpetological Review, earless lizards burrow beneath vegetation and rocks along rocky riverbanks during the day and venture out at night to forage both on land and underwater. Soil clings to their rough scales, allowing them to camouflage when they emerge.
It is believed that earless lizards use their tails as anchors, wrapping around rocks and tree roots to avoid being washed away by floods. They breed in water and have mating sessions that can last for hours.
According to the Animal Diversity Web, the earless lizard’s unusual appearance led scientists to believe there was a connection between snakes and lizards, but this has since been disproven.
The earless lizard is endemic to Borneo, where it is threatened by deforestation and the exotic pet trade, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
