Meet the sandfish skink, a small desert lizard with a truly wild talent—it can “swim” through sand just like a fish glides through water! Native to the arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East, the sandfish has evolved an incredible way to escape predators and heat: it dives beneath the surface and wiggles its body side to side, propelling itself through loose sand.
But this isn’t just a cool party trick—it’s a feat of physics. Researchers studying sandfish have found that the lizard’s movements allow it to generate thrust while reducing resistance from individual sand grains. In fact, their unique movement has even inspired engineers working on robotics and search-and-rescue tech designed to navigate through loose materials like debris or rubble.
No water needed—just an astonishing adaptation that lets this little lizard rule the desert underground.