Smoke Detector

"Sleepy lizards" aren't so sleepy when it comes to fire

- Clarissa Brincat

A BURNED LUNCH at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans did more than just disappoint a hungry staffer. As soon as a smoke plume from the mishap drifted into their enclosure, Australian "sleepy lizards," a type of skink, suddenly stopped whatever they were doing-they tensed, flicked their tongues, and began pacing their enclosure's edges and digging in the substrate, frantic to escape. Other reptile species in the same room didn't flinch.

The incident sparked a scientific hunch: perhaps the lizards, which happen to hail from particularly fire-prone regions, had evolved to recognize a blaze's chemical cues.