photo by Kelly Sheldrick. Like the other Bluetongues, a large, stout, not very agile omnivorous skink. This particular Bluetongue is found in the SW quarter of Australia, and parts of South Australia,...

Credit: Matt Clancy Australian researchers have discovered that sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosus) can recognize the smell of smoke as a sign of approaching fire and attempt to escape, but they do not respond to the sound of fire. The study, published in Biology Letters, provides the first empirical test of an amusing anecdote: When zookeepers at a US zoo burned their lunch, they noticed they were not alone in smelling the acrid smoke. Captive sleepy lizards became agitated by the smell wafting through the building, while other reptiles remained calm. Despite being mostly captive-bred, the lizards tongue-flicked, paced, and tried to escape—behavior researchers now show appears innate, not learned.

In a groundbreaking study that sheds new light on the complex interactions between wildlife and wildfire, Australian researchers have discovered that sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosus) possess an innate ability to recognize the smell of smoke, a sensory cue that signals the approach of fire. This fascinating discovery not only confirms long-standing anecdotes but also reveals intricate evolutionary adaptations that enable these reptiles to survive in fire-prone environments.