These Lizards Have So Much Lead in Their Blood, They Should Be Dead. Instead, They're Thriving

These Lizards Have So Much Lead in Their Blood, They Should Be Dead. Instead, They're Thriving

Brown anoles around New Orleans have the highest blood concentrations of lead ever recorded in vertebrates—and scientists aren't sure why they can survive it

Lizards in New Orleans have highest blood-lead levels ever recorded, study finds

Tulane study finds brown anoles in New Orleans have the highest blood lead levels ever recorded in a vertebrate — yet show no signs of harm.

These New Orleans lizards are full of lead

And they're doing just fine.

Lead-resistant lizards in New Orleans could hold clues to combating lead poisoning

New research from Tulane University found that brown anole lizards in New Orleans carry the highest blood-lead levels ever recorded in a vertebrate—amounts that would be lethal to most other animals—yet they appear unaffected.

Lizard species in New Orleans highly resistant to lead: Study

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — New research from Tulane University found brown anole lizards in New Orleans carry the highest blood-lead levels ever recorded in a vertebrate. The study found that the lizards lead levels exceeded all previously reported values for fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals. “What’s astonishing is that these lizards aren’t just surviving, they’re thriving with lead burden that would be catastrophic for most other animals…