Evolution and function of fine surface structures of lizard skin.

The skin surface of lizards carries spectacular ornamentations, which vary in multiple aspects even among closely related species. In recent years, new imaging techniques have revealed that the variability of skin surface structures at the macroscopic level is dwarfed by the structural variation at the micro- and nanoscopic level. Some of these fine structures have received ample attention, such as the nanostructures on the feet of geckos responsible for the animals' remarkable adhering capacities, which have inspired the super-adhesive biomaterial Geckskin™. However, in most cases, the exact functions of fine surface structures and the evolutionary and ecological reasons why they vary so dramatically among species remain unexplored. To fill in this hiatus, this project will visualize and compare the fine surface structures of the skin of a large number of lizard species facing a range of different environmental challenges. Biomechanical and optical experiments will be conducted to assess the physical properties of skin with different fine structures, which will enable us to link structure with function. This will further allow us to reconstruct the evolutionary history of fine surface structures, and ultimately, unravel whether species evolved similar skin features to adapt to similar environments. The integrative approach of this project will be achieved by several interinstitutional and transdisciplinary collaborations and with the use of cutting-edge tools in bio-imaging.

Keywords:LIZARDS

Disciplines:Animal biology, Veterinary medicine

Project type:Collaboration project