Sandfish Lizards Do A Snake For Desert Sand Navigation  Sandfish Lizard |
Sandfish, which are small lizards with smooth scales, virtually turn themselves into snakes for navigating across desert sand.
Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) researchers discovered that the animals place their limbs against their sides and create a wave motion with their bodies to push themselves through sand.
"When startled above the surface, the animals dive into the sand within a half second," said Daniel Goldman, assistant professor in GIT School of Physics, who led the study.
"Once below the surface, they no longer use their limbs for propulsion -- instead, they move forward by propagating a travelling wave down their bodies like a snake," Goldman added.
The GIT researchers used high-speed x-ray imaging for visualising the sandfish – scientifically known as Scincus scincus - burrowing into and through sand. The team used this information to develop a model of the lizard's locomotion.
The sandfish used in this study is present in the Sahara Desert of Africa and is approximately 4 inches in length. It uses its long, wedge-shaped snout and countersunk lower jaw to rapidly bury into and swim within sand.
The sandfish's body has flattened sides and is covered with smooth shiny scales. The legs are short and sturdy with long and flattened fringed toes and the tail tapers to a fine point.
The study has been published in the Friday issue of Science.
