Lizard Makes Hilarious Two-Legged Escape During School Demonstration

Quick Take

• Some lizards switch to two legs mid-sprint, and the reason behind it isn't what most people assume. See the biomechanics →
• This lizard had exactly one second of freedom and used it in the most committed way possible. Watch the escape unfold →
• Live animal school demonstrations don't always go according to plan, and sometimes the animal has its own agenda. See why it goes wrong →
• Multiple lizard species can run bipedally, but researchers disagree on whether they actually choose to. Explore bipedal species →

Some lizards can run on two legs, and when they really get moving, the result looks almost cartoonish. The lizard in this video gives a perfect demonstration when it gets one brief taste of freedom during a school presentation and immediately makes a run for it.

What Type of Lizard Runs on Its Hind Legs?

There isn’t just one type of lizard capable of running on its hind legs. Frilled lizards, basilisk lizards, and several other species can switch from four-legged movement to a bipedal sprint.

Why do they do it? Researchers studying Australian agamid lizards found that acceleration appears to play a major role. When a lizard accelerates quickly, its body position and center of mass can cause the front of the body to rise, leaving the hind legs to do most of the work.

That doesn’t necessarily mean every two-legged sprint is accidental. Researchers have also found signs that some lizards may actively favor bipedal running in certain situations. In other words, the mechanics help explain how it happens, but there may be more than one reason a lizard chooses two legs over four.

Why Bring Reptiles Into Schools?

Seeing a reptile up close is a very different experience from reading about one in a textbook. Educational animal demonstrations can give students a chance to see how reptiles move, behave, and respond to their surroundings while learning about the animals from a handler.

Of course, demonstrations involving live animals do not always go exactly according to plan. Sometimes the animal decides it has its own lesson to teach.

Lizard Takes Off Running Mid-Demonstration

When the video begins, several children are seated in a semicircle while a reptile handler kneels in front of them holding the lizard. The caption jokes that the little guy had been “planning his escape for years,” while action-movie-style music sets up what happens next.

The handler places the lizard on the floor, and there is essentially no hesitation. It takes off across the gym on its hind legs while the handler immediately gives chase.

One child pulls back as the lizard races past, which somehow makes the whole seven-second escape even funnier. The lizard may not get very far, but it absolutely commits to the getaway.

Watch the Hilarious Video Below!