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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Lizards Evolving Rapidly to Survive Deadly Fire Ants


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Long legs and skittish behavior are recently evolved traits that allow native fence lizards (pictured above, a lizard in Alabama) in the southeastern U.S. to co-exist with lethal and invasive fire ants, a January 2009 study said.

The new findings could boost hopes for species facing quickly changing habitats due to climate change, experts say.

Photograph courtesy Tracy Langkilde/Pennsylvania State University