Lizards, like most vertebrates, do have blood, but their blood is not the typical crimson red that we often associate with blood. Instead, some lizards have a unique and fascinating adaptation that gives their blood a lime green color. This distinctive feature results in a bright green coloration of various parts of their body, including muscles, bones, tongue, and mucosal tissues.
The green color of the blood is due to a different form of heme, which is a component of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood. In most vertebrates, including humans, the heme in hemoglobin is in the ferrous form, which gives blood its red color. However, in these lizards, the heme is in a different form, resulting in the green coloration.
This adaptation is particularly intriguing because it is quite rare in the animal kingdom. In fact, these lizards are one of the few known species to have green blood. The specific reason for this adaptation and its advantages are still not fully understood by scientists.
It is worth noting that not all lizards have green blood. This unique characteristic is found in a group of lizards known as the New Guinea skinks or Prasinohaema. These lizards are native to New Guinea and some surrounding islands. They belong to the genus Prasinohaema, which literally translates to “green blood” in Greek, highlighting the remarkable nature of their blood coloration.
The green blood of these lizards is not just limited to their circulatory system. It permeates throughout their body, giving a green tint to their tissues and organs. This phenomenon is quite extraordinary and sets these lizards apart from other reptiles.
While the green blood adaptation is certainly intriguing, it is important to note that it is not the only defining characteristic of these lizards. They also have other unique features and behaviors that make them fascinating creatures to study.
Lizards, particularly the New Guinea skinks or Prasinohaema, have green blood rather than the typical red blood found in most vertebrates. This distinctive adaptation results in a bright green coloration of their muscles, bones, tongue, and mucosal tissues. The specific reason for this adaptation and its advantages are still not fully understood, adding to the intrigue surrounding these remarkable lizards.