Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles that have adapted to thrive in a variety of habitats around the world. If you’ve ever wondered whether lizards like getting wet or playing in water, you’re not alone!
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: While some lizard species do enjoy swimming and soaking in water, most lizards do not actually “like” water in the way humans enjoy it. They do, however, need access to water to survive.
In this nearly 3000 word guide, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the connection between lizards and water. We’ll overview different types of lizards and their habitats, lizard drinking and soaking behaviors, whether pet lizards need access to water features, and more.
By the end, you’ll have a detailed understanding of the complex relationship between these fascinating reptiles and their aquatic environments.
The Diverse Habitats Lizards Occupy
Tropical Rainforests
The warm and humid tropical rainforests provide an ideal environment for many lizard species to thrive. Tree-dwelling lizards like chameleons and geckos take advantage of the dense vegetation and abundance of insects in the forest canopy.
Other lizards like iguanas and monitor lizards inhabit the forest floor and swim in slow moving streams. Rainforests contain an incredible diversity of lizard species due to the variety of microhabitats available.
Deserts
Despite the harsh conditions, deserts are home to specialized lizard species like the chuckwalla and desert iguana. These hardy lizards can withstand high temperatures and low rainfall. Adaptations like light-colored scales help them blend into the sand while behavioral adaptations like burrowing into the ground and basking help them regulate body temperature.
Desert lizards are also able to extract water from their food and minimize water loss.
Coastlines
The junction between land and sea provides unique habitats for lizards like the marine iguana found along rocky coastlines. Marine iguanas are the only truly marine lizard species, capable of foraging in the ocean for algae and withstanding the crashing waves along shorelines.
Other lizard species may inhabit sandy beaches, mangrove forests, or rocky tide pools. Coastal habitats contain a mix of terrestrial and marine resources for lizards.
Backyards
Backyards and green spaces in urban areas may contain small lizard species like anoles, geckos, skinks, and fence lizards. These adaptable lizards take advantage of the warmth from pavement, hiding spots under debris, and availability of insect prey.
Introduced species like the green anole have also successfully colonized urban habitats. Providing habitat features like leaf litter, log piles, and native plants can help support lizards in suburban environments.
Do Lizards Drink Water?
Lizards, like all living creatures, require water to survive. However, how lizards get moisture and whether they drink from standing water varies by species. Here’s an in-depth look at how different types of lizards hydrate themselves and what their relationship with water entails.
How Lizards Get Moisture
Lizards have adapted specialized techniques to get the moisture and water they need:
- Some lizards get all the water they need from their food. Creatures like insects and worms contain a fair amount of moisture.
- Species like the thorny devil can absorb water vapor from the air through their skin. They have grooves between the spines on their back that channel condensed water droplets to their mouth.
- Tree-dwelling lizards like chameleons and anoles absorb water that collects on leaves and branches through their specialized toe pads.
- Desert-dwelling lizards like the Gila monster have a specialized nasal structure that condenses moisture from exhaled air, allowing them to reabsorb it.
Species That Drink From Standing Water
While many lizards get moisture from food and other sources, some species do directly drink from standing water:
- Monitor lizards like the Komodo dragon will drink when standing water is available. They use their forked tongue to detect sources of water.
- Aquatic lizards like the Chinese water dragon drink while swimming and bathing.
- Some geckos, skinks, and night lizards will drink from puddles, streams, and droplets on leaves if available.
According to a 2013 study, 71% of lizards from arid areas drank from standing water when given the chance. This suggests that while not all species need to drink water, most will take advantage of it when available.
Providing Water for Pet Lizards
For pet keepers, it’s important to research your lizard’s hydration needs. Here are some tips:
- Provide a water bowl or mist the enclosure daily for moisture-loving species like chameleons and tropical geckos.
- For desert species like bearded dragons, overflow the water bowl 1-2 times per week rather than keeping water available at all times.
- Monitor water intake and urination/defecation to ensure proper hydration.
- Provide water-rich foods like worms, snails, berries, and greens.
While lizards have adapted to get moisture in various ingenious ways, most will drink standing water when available. Understanding how to meet their hydration needs is key to keeping lizards healthy, whether they are pets or wildlife.
Lizards That Swim and Soak
Dragon Lizards
Dragon lizards, including bearded dragons and water dragons, often enjoy spending time in water. Many owners provide small pools or ponds for their pet dragons to swim and soak in. The standing and running water helps keep dragons hydrated.
Since dragons live in warm, humid environments, the water also increases humidity which is beneficial for their health and shedding process. Water pools allow dragons the chance to swim, which is great exercise and enrichment. Some dragons even learn to swim underwater like little alligators!
Iguanas
Iguanas are naturally found near water sources in tropical areas. They often swim and lounge in tree branches overhanging rivers and lakes. As pets, iguanas appreciate having a large basin or tub of water available to soak in. The water helps them regulate their body temperature and humidity.
Submerging in water also helps remove dead skin during an iguana’s shedding cycle. Providing branches or ramps allows them to climb out of the water easily. Green iguanas in particular are strong swimmers and some even swim underwater.
Allowing pet iguanas to regularly swim and soak supports their health and natural behaviors.
Skinks
Many types of skinks enjoy swimming and soaking opportunities despite not being as aquatic as other lizard species. Blue-tongued skinks, for example, come from Australia’s desert regions and appreciate a good soak to rehydrate. Providing a tub of shallow water allows them to drink, splash, and swim.
Other tropical skinks like prehensile-tailed skinks bathe regularly in the wild and benefit from rain chambers or shallow pools as pets. Some skinks even swim fully underwater for short periods. Supplying water for skinks to swim and soak in helps satisfy their natural behaviors and prevents dehydration.
Anoles
Smaller lizards like anoles can also take advantage of water features for swimming and soaking. Green anoles enjoy basking near water and will drink droplets from leaves and branches. Providing shallow containers of water allows them to rehydrate and even take short dips.
Misting the tank regularly also allows moisture-loving anoles the chance to soak their skin. Coconut fiber substrate and live plants help maintain the humidity anoles prefer. While anoles may not swim underwater for long periods, offering water sources supports their health and natural behaviors.
With proper temperature and humidity, anoles can thrive when given opportunities to soak and swim on occasion.
Do Lizards Need Access to Water Features?
Considering Habitat Needs
When keeping lizards as pets or observing them in nature, it’s important to consider their hydration requirements. Many lizard species have adapted to arid environments and derive moisture from their food, but most still need some access to water features in order to thrive.
Desert-dwelling lizards like the bearded dragon can survive on the moisture they get from eating plants and insects alone. But even they benefit from occasional soaks or mists from a spray bottle to support skin shedding, bowel movements, and egg laying.
More tropical species like green iguanas require daily access to clean water for drinking and soaking.
Health Benefits of Soaking
Allowing pet lizards to soak in shallow water dishes for 10-20 minutes several times a week provides many health advantages. The soaking aids in hydration, loosens stuck shed skin, and allows the reptiles to regulate their body temperature.
Lizards can also drink while soaking in the water dish. This helps flush toxins from their system and prevents constipation. Providing adequate soaking opportunities can prevent many common health issues in captive lizards.
Risks of Standing Water
While most lizards benefit from access to water features, allowing standing water to accumulate in their habitat does pose some risks. Stagnant water provides an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and parasites.
It’s important to change water dishes frequently to keep the water clean and prevent potentially contagious organisms from multiplying. Any water features should be fully drained, disinfected, and refilled with fresh water at least 2-3 times per week.
With proper maintenance, the risks of illness are low compared to the many benefits lizards gain from supplemental hydration. Their access to clean water features in captivity helps support healthy organ function, digestive regularity, and skin conditioning.
Fascinating Lizards with Aquatic Adaptations
Marine Iguanas of the Galapagos
The Galapagos Islands are home to an iconic and truly unique lizard – the Marine Iguana. As the only seagoing lizard in the world, the Marine Iguana has evolved special adaptations that allow it to swim and forage in the ocean.
Marine Iguanas have the ability to dive over 30 feet underwater to find their favorite snacks – algae and seaweed. To help them stay submerged for up to an hour, Marine Iguanas can slow their heart rate down to conserve oxygen. Their long flat tail works as a rudder to propel them through the water.
Their sharp claws provide grip on the rocky shores when exiting the ocean.
These large iguanas can grow over 3 feet long and have a plate of scales on their nose to protect them from the dangerous predators they encounter like sharks and hawks. Their dark black and gray coloration acts as camouflage against the black lava rocks where they spend their time sunbathing to raise their body temperature after swimming in the cold ocean.
Truly one of the most fascinating lizards in the world!
Crocodile Skinks
Found only in New Guinea and some surrounding islands, the Crocodile Skink is a semi-aquatic lizard with several unique adaptations. Growing up to 15 inches long, these skinks have a distinctively crocodile-like shape with a large triangular head and flattened body and tail.
Crocodile Skinks spend most of their time in and around the water. They are excellent swimmers and can stay submerged for up to 90 minutes thanks to special valves in their nose. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth allow them to feast on fish, frogs, and aquatic insects.
They even have eyes specially adapted for seeing clearly underwater.
When on land, Crocodile Skinks still need to keep moist. They are typically found on wet rocks or in reeds and grass close to the water’s edge. Their camouflage pattern of black and brown bands blends in perfectly in these environments.
One of the most aquatic species of skinks, the Crocodile Skink truly lives up to its name!
Jesus Christ Lizards
With an nickname like “Jesus Christ Lizard”, you know this lizard must have some cool tricks. Found in Central and South America, this lizard’s real name is the Basilisk Lizard, but it gained its nickname from its ability to run on water across ponds and streams!
Using its long hind legs and large feet specially adapted for slapping the water’s surface, the Basilisk can sprint up to 5 feet per second across water. It only contacts the water’s surface for milliseconds at a time, allowing it to avoid breaking the water’s tension and sinking.
This water-walking ability allows it to escape from predators but only lasts for short distances of around 15 feet.
In addition to water-walking, these lizards can also sprint rapidly on land, with speeds clocked as high as 18 miles per hour! The Basilisk’s impressive locomotion definitely inspires comparisons to divine miracles.
A true Jesus Christ Lizard can even dash across a small pool without sinking – an astounding ability that few other animals can match!
Conclusion
As we’ve explored, lizards occupy a wide range of ecosystems around the world, from dense jungles to barren deserts. While some species do enjoy swimming and soaking in water, most lizards do not inherently “like” water in the same recreational way humans do.
However, access to water sources is still extremely important for lizard health and survival. Clean drinking water helps them maintain hydration, while pools and other water features allow certain species to soak and cool down.
The diverse habitats lizards inhabit and their varied adaptations for acquiring moisture show the remarkable flexibility of these reptiles. By better understanding lizards’ connections to water, we can provide proper care for those kept as pets and conserve delicate wild populations.
