News Animals

This lizard can tolerate extreme levels of lead

Cuban brown anoles have the highest blood lead levels of any vertebrate known

a brown anole lizard rests on a plant with green leaves in the background

Cuban brown anole lizards, like this one spotted in New Orleans, can tolerate an unprecedented amount of lead in their blood.

Wayne Wang

By Meghan Rosen

Some urban lizards have been hiding a heavy secret: They may be among the most lead-tolerant vertebrates on the planet.

Cuban brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) can thrive with unprecedented amounts of lead metal circulating in their blood, scientists at Tulane University report August 6 in Environmental Research.