How do lizards survive with little water in deserts?

Lizards are highly successful at surviving in arid environments due to several physiological and behavioral adaptations that minimize water loss and maximize intake.

• Efficient Waste Excretion: Unlike mammals, lizards excrete nitrogenous waste as uric acid, a process that requires significantly less water than the production of liquid urine.1
• Metabolic Efficiency: Because lizards are ectothermic, they possess low metabolic rates compared to birds and mammals. This energy-efficient lifestyle reduces their overall water requirements.12
• Water Acquisition: Insectivorous lizards obtain much of their necessary hydration directly from their prey. Additionally, some desert species have evolved to harvest dew that collects on their skin during the early morning.1
• Salt Management: Herbivorous lizards utilize specialized salt glands to actively excrete mineral salts, which helps them maintain water balance while consuming plant matter.1

These adaptations allow lizards to thrive in extreme environments where water is scarce, making them effective colonizers of both deserts and isolated oceanic islands.1