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A Lizards Expendable Tail
Author: Lizard Lounge
Some lizards when confronted with a predator will voluntarily
shed their tail. This process is called tail autotomy
(self-cut). After the tail is detached from the body it will
wiggle around on the ground for a few minutes. This provides a
visual distraction and draws attention away from the vulnerable
head and abdomen of the lizard. Usually this allows the lizard
enough time to make an escape.
Not all lizard species are capable of doing this, the ones that
can have fracture points in their vertebrae. The lizard's blood
vessels in the tail area rapidly constrict after autotomy to
ensure minimal blood loss. The muscles in this area are also
adapted to provide easy shedding of the tail.
After a lizard drops its tail it will start to grow back a new
one, however the new one will not look the same as the original.
It may have different colors, shape and size. Sometimes multiple
tails will grow in the place of the one that was dropped. The
new tail is able to perform all the functions of the original
with the exception of autotomy. That's because the new tail does
not have any fracture points in the vertebrae. For some legless
lizards their tail can make up almost 2/3 of their body length,
so loosing it can be a stressful ordeal.
The whole process of shedding its tail can be very stressful to
the lizard. If this happens while in captivity it is generally a
result of stress and careful evaluation of the situation is
required to ensure that it does not happen again. A lizard that
has recently shed its tail should be kept in its own enclosure
while it re-grows the tail. Ensure that this enclosure is kept
clean to minimize the chance of infection. Growing a new tail
requires the expenditure of a great deal of protein (energy) and
fat. This is compounded by the fact that the tail stores a lot
fat which is no longer with the lizard. It is widely believed
that the energy required to re-grow a tail can negatively effect
the reproductive cycle. This happens because the lizard is
unable to put enough energy into producing the eggs. In some
cases it may take the lizard up to 2 years to completely re-grow
the tail.
About the author:
The Lizard Lounge is a resource for the captive care of lizards. They
provide comprehensive care sheets, articles and photos for all
species of lizards.
Article Keywords:
Reptiles |
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A Quick Note
From The Publisher...
If you like the article above, you may be
interested in the following article which is also related to Reptiles...
| How to Make a Smooth Move With Your Pet Moving with Exotic Pets |
| How to Make a Smooth Move With Your Pet - Moving with Exotic Pets By Alex Kazaryan
A lot is written how to move with dogs, cats or even fish. But what if your beloved ones are far more exotic and unusual than other people's pets, don't they need some special and accordingly unusual care during the move? If you are the lucky owner of, say, a snake or a hamster here are few suggestion for your smooth with them:
The first thing to remember when moving reptiles is to keep them moist. It can be achieved by putting a damp blanket inside a moving container for your pet. Reptiles can be packed in boxes, venomous snakes should be be double boxed. Make holes in boxes to maintain good ventilation during the move. Make the inside of the box soft for your pet by putting their foam panels, crumpled paper and pieces of cloth. Mark the box with both common and scientific names of your reptile. Be sure to write "live cargo", "this side up" and "keep at room temperature ( 70-75F)" if... |
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