In the streams of Costa Rica, a water anole (Anolis aquaticus) – a semi-aquatic lizard – has evolved a way to breathe underwater, using an air bubble around its nostrils, to escape predators. This fascinating discovery, confirmed by researchers at Binghamton University in 2021, sheds light on the significance of this adaptation.

Dubbed the “chicken nuggets of the forest” by Lindsey Swierk (the study’s lead researcher), water anoles are preyed upon by birds, snakes, crabs, and even larger lizards. To escape, these 20 centimer-long “pencil-sized” creatures dive into water, relying on camouflage and their bubble-breathing ability to survive.

How do they pull off this underwater feat? The secret lies in their hydrophobic (water-repelling) skin, which traps “a slick of air over their [bodies],” as described by Swierk. This forms an oxygen-recycling bubble around their nostrils, functioning like a natural rebreather used by human divers. Swierk’s study was the first to experimentally validate this adaptation. After rubbing the snouts of a group of lizards with emollients (thus impacting bubble formation) tests revealed that lizards with functional bubbles could stay submerged 32% longer than those with impaired bubbles.

Interestingly, the water anole isn’t alone in this underwater ingenuity. Diving beetles and diving bell spiders (Argyroneta aquatica) employ similar strategies, storing air for extended dives. These examples of convergent evolution demonstrate how different species evolve comparable traits to tackle shared challenges. What sets the water anole apart, however, is that it is the first known vertebrate with this adaptation.

These impressive skills of the lizards’ bubble-breathing trick are also a glimpse into evolutionary innovation. As noted by the researchers, this adaptation allows the water anole to exploit a unique ecological niche, making it a standout example of “survival of the fittest” in action.

Beyond biology, these findings could inspire real-world technology through biomimicry. Engineers might study these natural scuba systems to design advanced underwater breathing devices or enhance aquatic robotics. For now, these bubble-breathing anoles remain a tiny, yet awe-inspiring, testament to nature’s ingenuity. With abilities that would make Aquaman jealous, these lizards prove that sometimes, survival really is a breath of fresh air!