In the vast and sometimes bizarre world of animals, there’s one reptile that takes self-defense to a shocking new level: ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world.

Why they're awesome: Greater short-horned lizards have a squat, flat shape and short snouts, which makes them look more like amphibians than reptiles — hence the nickname "horny toads." But these ...

Scientists are trying to figure out how green-blooded lizards might benefit from the unusual pigment. The answer could provide new insights into... Why Do Some Lizards Have Green Blood? Why Do Some ...

The horned lizard relies on camouflage until there is nowhere left to hide. When a predator closes in, it deliberately ruptures blood vessels behind its eyes. A stream of foul-tasting blood sprays ...

The brown lizards scampering on New Orleans porches and sunning themselves on sidewalks should be dead by any other standard. That’s because the Cuban brown anoles live with the highest blood lead ...