A new tale of lost tails: Correlates of tail breakage in the worm lizard Amphisbaena vermicularis

Abstract

Brodie et al., 1991). Although antipredator mechanisms are known for several different animal groups (Edmunds, 1974), behavioral observations in nature might prove difficult. Most species are naturally rare (Preston, 1948), and in situ observations of predator-prey interactions are generally scarce (Fitch, 1987). However, for many species this difficulty can be overcome through the inspection of specimens housed in scientific collections. For instance, individuals

Unwrapping broken tails: Biological and environmental correlates of predation pressure in limbless reptiles

“…The increasing chance of tail loss in large‐sized specimens is consistent with previous findings (Bateman & Fleming, 2009; Costa et al, 2014; Guedes et al, 2020). There are at least three nonmutually exclusive explanations for the size‐dependence of autotomy.…”

“…For some animal groups, examining preserved specimens can reveal evidence of past biotic interactions, such as nonlethal injuries as amputation and scars resulting from antagonistic encounters (Bateman & Fleming, 2009). Based on the collection site of preserved specimens, one can compare environmental conditions experienced by specimens with and without body scars (Guedes et al, 2020; Kuo & Irschick, 2016). Likewise, one can investigate the importance of biology, ecology, and biogeography on the occurrence of scars in preserved specimens (Costa et al, 2014; Fleming et al, 2007).…”

“…Snakes and amphisbaenians may shed their tails during antagonistic encounters (Costa et al, 2014; Guedes et al, 2020). Amphisbaenians can use this defensive behaviour only once (Gans, 1978), and although multiple tail breakage is possible in some snakes (Slowinski & Savage, 1995), it may not be very common (Costa et al, 2014; Dourado et al, 2013; Pleguezuelos et al, 2013).…”

Regeneration in Reptiles Generally and the New Zealand Tuatara in Particular as a Model to Analyse Organ Regrowth in Amniotes: A Review

“…Whether shorter tails in snakes actually represent a true form of autotomy or are the results of amputations incurred during attacks by other animals, followed by some healing and repair, or whether they had better be referred to as pseudo-autotomies (as suggested in Costa et al [ 29 ]), is a question still not fully resolved. Incidentally, although not snakes but equally limbless reptiles, worm lizards of the family Amphisbaenidae frequently experience tail loss (most likely through injury); yet, regeneration does not occur [ 30 , 31 ]. On the other hand, the occurrence of secondary cartilage in a non-avian dinosaur embryo has been reported by Bailleul et al [ 32 ] and to what extent in reptiles, generally, including Amphisbaenidae, flat bones like those of the skull can be repaired after damage remains to be demonstrated despite an earlier report by Irwin & Ferguson [ 33 ], who declared that progenitor cells of reptilian dermal bone “are not capable of forming secondary cartilage”.…”

The type of leg lost affects habitat use but not survival in a non‐regenerating arthropod

“…Autotomy is frequently the cause of missing body parts in reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, mollusks, and echinoderms (Bateman & Fleming, 2009;Fleming et al, 2007;Gerald et al, 2017;Guedes et al, 2020). This extraordinary defensive behavior occurs when attempting to escape encounters with predators, after agonistic interactions with conspecifics, or in the case of arthropods, to survive a faulty molt (Maginnis, 2006).…”