Pygmy Blue-Tongue Lizards Display Remarkable Breath-Holding Adaptation in Conservation Study

Research led by PhD candidate Kim Michael, recipient of the 2022/23 Peter Rankin Trust Fund for Herpetology, has revealed that endangered pygmy blue-tongue lizards can hold their breath underwater for extended periods, averaging over 28 minutes with a maximum recorded time of 38 minutes. This adaptation, known as apnoea, was observed during field studies at a translocation site on a private sheep farm near Adelaide, South Australia, where heavy rainfall flooded both natural spider burrows and artificial burrows. The species, once thought extinct until its 1992 rediscovery, now survives only in a limited 150 km range in mid-north South Australia, facing threats from habitat loss and climate change. Michael's work investigates burrow preferences and habitat suitability to inform conservation strategies, including the use of artificial burrows to support future translocation efforts aimed at preventing extinction.