What Happens When a Gecko Loses its Tail?
Have you ever wondered what happens when a gecko loses its tail? Did you lizards can regenerate their tails? The process is called Caudal Autotomy (Greek: self-amputation). This can happen when the tail is pulled hard enough, or they “drop” their tails to escape predators. The tail wriggles and writhes, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes.
Some lizards will return to their tail to eat it in order to gain energy, recoup, or get back the nutrients in the tail, which is a major storage organ for the lizard.
This video explains the process in more detail. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Videoo Source: 18spattem
What Happens When a Gecko Loses its Tail?
The process of an animal dropping any of its limbs is called “autotomy” which is Greek for “self-severing”, or self amputation. The purpose of self amputation is generally one of self-defense. So it is with geckos.
When a gecko loses its tail, it was more than likely feeling threatened or their tail may have been grabbed. The dropped tail wiggles and twitches for awhile afterward, presumably to create an illusion of continued struggle to distract the predator, giving the gecko time to get away. The gecko has specially designed connective tissue in the tail that creates a “weak spot” where the tail breaks off readily.
When a gecko loses its tail, the blood vessels to the tail constricts, so that there is very little blood loss. The gecko will grow a new tail over a period of weeks. The regenerated tail will contain cartilage rather than bone, and the skin of the new tail will be different in color and texture.
Some species of geckos lose their tails when the tail is grabbed with sufficient force. But some other species can simply throw off the tail when sufficiently stressed, such as when attacked by ants. In these lizards, where the tails are used for storing reserves, the animal will return after the threat is passed and will eat the tail to recover the reserves.
Caudal autotomy in lizards takes two forms. In the first form, called intervertebral autotomy, the tail breaks between the vertebrae. The second form of caudal autotomy is intravertebral autotomy, in which there are zones of weakness, fracture planes across each vertebra in the mid-part of the tail. In this second type of autotomy, the lizard contracts a muscle to fracture a vertebra, rather than break the tail between two vertebrae.
Isn’t that amazing?
A few other animals that can shed their tails are skinks, salamanders and tuatara.
SOURCES: Wikipedia and About.com
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I hope you have enjoyed, “What Happens When a Gecko Loses its Tail?“
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MY QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY: Have you had experience with your pet lizard dropping its tail? Tell us about it.
Her own animal experience is vast, having raised and rescued Alpine Goats, Chickens, Turkeys, Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, Turtles, Raccoons, Cats, Dogs, and even an Opossum and Bearded Dragon.
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It’s definitely an effective tactic! Fortunately none of mine have done it yet.
I’m glad none of your geckos have lost a tail. I think I would be quite traumatized to find a lone tail somewhere. Thanks for visiting, and commenting too! Cheers.
That is so weird. “Throw” it’s tail!? I’ve seen some with obviously missing tails, but it would be crazy to see it happen.
That was a very interesting video. I am definitely not a big lizard fan because I saw so many when I lived in Hawaii, but I still find them especially interesting and definitely so after reading this and watching the video. Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome, Nate. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. 🙂