You may have heard that you should be careful handling lizards because you could “pull their tail off.” But did you know that is not precisely what happens? Some geckos, skinks, and other lizards, as well as tuatara and salamanders, will shed part of their tail if it is grasped, but this is not just because it was pulled off. This is a trait called autotomy, or the removal of one’s own body part, and is partly the result of powerful muscle contractions by the animal. We are still learning the intricacies of this ability, but we know the separation occurs in lizards along vertebral cleavage planes and is an excellent adaptation to avoid predation!
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
