Researchers for the first time have discovered a lizard that changes its sex depending on hotter temperatures. As per the researchers, it is the first time that this phenomenon has been seen in reptiles in the wild.

The cold-blooded Australian Central Bearded Dragon is commonly found on red sandy areas in the semi-arid regions of eastern Australia. Genetically, these lizards are males but under hotter temperatures they hatch as females and give births to other lizards.

Study researchers unveiled another surprising finding that the way the lizards' gender is determined is getting changed, the female sex chromosomes may eventually wipe out completely one day. As per the study researchers, it is the first time they have proved that sex reversal can happen in the wild in any reptile.

The research is also a proof that the climate extremes can bring such severe changes in the biology of an organism. The study has found that the creature having embryos with two Z chromosomes making them as male can develop as female at high temperatures.

It means that the lizard's sex can be determined both by chromosomes as well as by the temperatures at which the lizard's eggs are incubated. In the case of reptiles, there are Z and W chromosomes, ZZ produce males and ZW females.

In the research, field data of 131 adult lizards was taken along with controlled breeding experiments and chemical analysis were carried out. The study has unveiled about the potential role of global warming in changing the biology of reptiles.