In Eastland County, Texas, a courthouse holds an unusual relic — a Texas horned lizard that, according to legend, lived for over 30 years, entombed in cement, without needing food or water, reports IFLScience.
In 1897, local resident Ernest Wood decided to test an old folk belief that these lizards could survive for decades by entering a state of suspended animation. He placed one specimen in a capsule in the wall of a building under construction for a courthouse. When the building was demolished in 1928, the lizard was allegedly found alive.
It was named Ol' Rip — after the character Rip Van Winkle, who also 'slept' for many years. According to reports, the legendary lizard was even shown to President Calvin Coolidge.
Later studies indicated that the story was likely a hoax. In the wild, horned lizards live only 5–8 years, and they cannot survive without oxygen and food.
According to a book from 1993, it is most likely that before the capsule was opened, another live lizard was placed inside, and the tale of the 'long sleep' became a local legend. In any case, Ol' Rip became a symbol of Texas culture, where reality intertwines with myth and a love for unusual stories.
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