Distinctive lizards that glow in the dark in Saudi Arabia... What is the secret?

ArabiaWeather - Glowing in the dark seems like a supernatural ability from science fiction movies, but scientists recently revealed the presence of lizards with this property in various locations of the Arabian Peninsula, including the deserts of AlUla Governorate in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

This phenomenon was discovered "accidentally" during field research and missions, according to Dr. Bernat Borrell from the Museum of Natural Sciences in Barcelona, Spain, in an interview with CNN.

Dr. Salvador Carranza from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF) led this research in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Burrell stated:

“Over the course of one year, we conducted surveys in desert areas, and we accidentally discovered this exciting phenomenon, whereby some desert gecko species show an intense glow when ultraviolet light is shined on them.”

Distinctive lizards that glow in the dark in Saudi Arabia

In the photos shared by Burrell, most of which were taken in the sands of AlUla Governorate, the lizard's scales appear uniquely glowing.

Borrell explained that Al-Ula Governorate, like many other desert areas in the Arabian Peninsula, is distinguished by the diversity of its reptiles, as many species of lizards and snakes live in the region.

When asked if other reptiles glow like these lizards, Burrell confirmed that this is a “very special case,” noting that this “remarkable discovery” is the second documented case of this type of glow. He added:

"Only one species of gecko has been found to have this specific skin glow, and it lives in deserts as well. This species is known as Pachydactylus rangei, and is endemic to the sand dunes of the Namib Desert in Africa."

The researchers also noted that species that live in sand dunes show a "significantly greater" level of glow compared to those that live in desert areas with a higher density of trees and rocks. The researchers believe that this type of glow may be more beneficial to reptiles that live in sandy deserts.

Burrell explained:

“We think that lizards may use this glowing property to spot other reptiles of the same species in the vast and barren areas formed by dune deserts,” he said, adding that these nocturnal lizards have much better vision compared to humans.

The reason behind the glow

While researchers don't know the exact mechanism behind these lizards' specific glow, they believe it has something to do with modified pigments in their skin called "Iridophoress." These pigments react with ultraviolet rays, emitting a bright green glow that can be seen in images.

See also:

The discovery of living organisms recorded for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman and the Arabian Peninsula

Saudi Arabia | Announcing the academic calendar for next year with the continuation of the three semesters

Sources:

arabic.cnn