Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi-
Are there any other lizards aside from chameleons that can move their eyes independently from eachother????

I think a lot of lizards can, it's just not as pronounced as it is in chameleons. I can easily see my bearded dragons move their eyes independently and I have seen it in anoles that I have kept as well. (It is an important trait to have when you are looking for predators that might eat you!) You want to keep one eye on one predator, that you have identified as a danger, while still having the other eye available to scan around and look for other predators.

I think technically, even leopard geckos can. The look out the sides normally with their eyes in a sort of fixed position, but they rotate them frontwards slightly for depth perception just prior to "striking" food. Since they both move at the same time though, I am not sure it that is considered "independent" or not. The anoles and beardeds can definitely move one eye while keeping the other one still, and I am sure many other lizards can as well. The movement is very slight however, but you can detect it, especially when they are looking for food.

Rodney

That's odd. I've looked in all kinds of publications and literature on the topic of eyes moving independenly in lizards. The only result I get is chameleons. Their movements are rather dramatic. I wonder if any other geckos aside from the leopards can do this.

My cresteds can do it. Actually, I've seen snakes do it too.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?