It turns out that pizza also makes reptiles fat as well.
Researchers in Florida found a female lizard near a local pizza parlor. They initially assumed that the lizard was about to lay eggs based on the bloated appearance. However, it turns out that more than 80% of the lizard’s body was filled up with feces.
A lizard’s body length is around two inches, not counting the head and tail. The greasy food from the pizza parlor all constipated inside the female’s body into the size of golf ball. Incredibly, there was 22 grams of poop inside the reptile.
The Daily Mail and other sources confirm that this lizard has set a new record for poop to body weight ratio. The previous record was said to have been held by a python that was of much bigger size. Unfortunately, researches said that the lizard had to be euthanized as its digestive systems had completely failed.
Natalie Claunch, who studies at the University of Florida was one of the researchers who first identified the lizard. Claunch said that when her team tried to feel for the eggs, the female’s body was too squishy.
It was only after CT scanning the lizard that she and her colleagues found out what was in the lizard. They explained that this was caused by the lizard consuming the soil outside the pizza parlor that was full of grease.
Experts believe that the substance was not something that the reptile could digest. As the constipation worsened, the chances of its survival dropped as well. Edward Stanley, a colleague of Claunch, said that the 3D model shocked him.
In particular, Stanley said he was shocked by how little space was left inside the lizard. Even to the untrained eye, it does not look like there is enough space for all other essential organs to function properly in the 3D image above.
This female was identified as a curly-tailed lizard, which fairly common around Florida. Although they are originally from the Caribbeans, it was introduced to the state in the 1940s for pest control purposes. They are well-known for their voracious appetites, which was on clear display with this female.
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Replaced!