Dossier
Lizard groups
Coverage of Lizard groups in the Nexus archive.
- Scientists solve 320-million-year mystery of reptile bone armor
Scientists have resolved a 320-million-year mystery regarding how reptiles evolved protective skin armor. The research reveals that armor-like skin bones evolved independently in multiple lizard groups rather than from a single common ancestor, with the remarkable discovery that Australian goannas lost this armor and then re-evolved it millions of years later.