Enigmatic lizards somehow survived near Chicxulub asteroid impact

image via New Scientist

June 25, 2025, 12:01 AM

• •Night lizards, a group of small, secretive lizards, may have been the only terrestrial vertebrates to survive the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that led to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.
• •Researchers used DNA sequence data and skeletal anatomy to create an evolutionary tree, estimating the ancestral night lizards emerged over 93 million years ago.
• •The lizards' survival is attributed to their slow metabolisms and ability to shelter in rock crevices, which may have protected them during the impact and its aftermath.
• •Despite not having typical survival traits, the night lizards thrived in the region of the impact, demonstrating their remarkable resilience.

A recent study suggests that night lizards may have been the sole terrestrial vertebrates to endure the asteroid impact 66 million years ago, which caused the demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Researchers constructed an evolutionary tree using DNA and skeletal data, indicating the ancestors of these lizards originated over 93 million years ago. The lizards' survival is attributed to their slow metabolisms and ability to find shelter in rock crevices, which shielded them during the impact. The study highlights the extraordinary resilience of these creatures, who overcame the catastrophic event despite lacking typical survival traits.

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