Swierk applied a substance to the lizards’ skin that prevented bubble formation. Without air bubbles, the lizards couldn’t stay underwater as long as usual: they surfaced about 30% — or about 67 seconds — sooner than lizards that could form bubbles.

Little lizards that wear snout bubbles underwater really do seem to be using them as tiny scuba tanks. Water anoles (Anolis aquaticus) made headlines a few years ago when they were caught proudly holding onto shiny pockets of air while submerged in their Costa Rican streams.