Behavioural compensation for tail loss in the ground skink, Scincella lateralis

Formanowicz, Daniel R.; Brodie, Edmund D.; Bradley, Patrick

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(05)80710-9

Cited by 100 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It has been suggested therefore that the reduction in the distance that the prey allow to the predator, after the loss of the tail, as has been seen in some ground lizards, could be combined with a change in strategy for avoiding predators. Becoming more reticent or keeping to habitats with larger objects for protection is one example of a change in strategy (Formanowicz et al 1990;Smith 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some species of geckos, it has been demonstrated that the tail determines the direction of the body when moving from one place to another, which helps it to avoid predation (Jusufi et al 2008;Sun et al 2009;Ding et al 2012). Thus, lizards develop early escape behaviors in order to minimize the negative consequences of caudal autotomy (Cooper 2003(Cooper , 2007, as well as implementing search behaviors for anti-predation shelters (Formanowicz et al 1990;Langkilde et al 2005;Zhao et al 2008). Ultimately, however, any post-caudal autotomy behavior potentially reduces the individual's adaptation capacity (Maginnis 2006;Gillis et al 2009;Fleming and Bateman 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

Domínguez-López¹,

Ortega-León

Zamora-Ábrego

2015

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

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Background: Caudal autotomy appears to be an adaptation strategy to reduce the risk of being preyed upon. In an encounter with a predator, the prey must reduce the risk of being preyed upon, and one of the strategies that has exerted a strong pressure on selection has been tail loss. In lizards, it has been demonstrated that tail loss reduces the probability of survival in the event of a second attack; therefore, they must resort to new escape strategies to reduce the risk of falling prey. In order to evaluate the effect of tail loss on the escape behavior of Gonatodes albogularis in natural conditions, we took samples from a forest interior population. We expected that individuals that had not lost their tails would allow the predator to get closer than those that had lost it. For each sample, we recorded the following: (1) escape behavior, measured through three distances (e.g., approach distance, escape distance, and final distance); (2) distance to shelter; and (3) length of tail. We included only males in the study since we did not record any females without a tail and far fewer with a regenerated tail.Results: We found that tail loss does have an effect on the escape behavior of G. albogularis. Males that have their tails intact allow the predator to come closer, and we found a negative correlation between the approach distance and the length of the tail. Conclusion:Our results support the escape behavior theory, in which G. albogularis males drop their tails when the risk of predation is much higher than the cost of fleeing.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

Domínguez-López¹,

Ortega-León

Zamora-Ábrego

2015

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

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“…Increased locomotory costs will have marked consequences for normal daily activity patterns. For example, tailless geckos may choose to stay nearer cover (Martín and Salvador 1992;Salvador et al 1995;Cooper 2003) or become less active (Formanowicz et al 1990;Salvador et al 1995;Downes and Shine 2001) or less aggressive (Fox et al 1990;Martín and Salvador 1993b). Such altered behavior may lead to altered foraging decisions (Martín and Salvador 1993a), territoriality (Martín and Salvador 1993a;Salvador et al 1995; many individual dwarf geckos on the University campus appear to have distinct territories ;Dando 2008), and access to mates (Martín and Salvador 1993b;Salvador et al 1995), as has been demonstrated in other lizard species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many lizard species demonstrate a decrease in running speed following autotomy (Pond 1978;Ballinger et al 1979;Punzo 1982;Formanowicz et al 1990;Martín and Avery 1998;Downes and Shine 2001;Chapple and Swain 2002b;Shine 2003;Cooper et al 2004;Lin and Ji 2005). Compromised escape speed is not a universal phenomenon, however, and some animals are not slowed by tail loss (Daniels 1983(Daniels , 1985bHuey et al 1990;Brown et al 1995;McConnachie and Whiting 2003;Lin and Ji 2005).…”

Section: Energetics Of the Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus Capensis (Gementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For many lizard species, a decrease in locomotor performance postautotomy has been demonstrated. Tail autotomy results in a 12%-42% decrease in sprint speed for representatives of five lizard families: Teiidae (Ballinger et al 1979), Iguanidae (Punzo 1982), Phrynosomatidae, (Punzo 1982), Lacertidae (Martín and Avery 1998), and Scincidae (Formanowicz et al 1990;Downes and Shine 2001;Chapple and Swain 2002b;Shine 2003). However, not all data suggest a detrimental effect of tail autotomy on speed (Daniels 1985b;Huey et al 1990;Brown et al 1995;McConnachie and Whiting 2003).…”

Section: Tail Autotomy Reduces Locomotion Performance In Lygodactylusmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Jettisoning Ballast or Fuel? Caudal Autotomy and Locomotory Energetics of the Cape Dwarf GeckoLygodactylus capensis(Gekkonidae)

Fleming

Verburgt²,

Scantlebury

et al. 2009

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

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Many lizard species will shed their tail as a defensive response (e.g., to escape a putative predator or aggressive conspecific). This caudal autotomy incurs a number of costs as a result of loss of the tail itself, loss of resources (i.e., stored in the tail or due to the cost of regeneration), and altered behavior. Few studies have examined the metabolic costs of caudal autotomy. A previous study demonstrated that geckos can move faster after tail loss as a result of reduced weight or friction with the substrate; however, there are no data for the effects of caudal autotomy on locomotory energetics. We examined the effect of tail loss on locomotory costs in the Cape dwarf gecko Lygodactylus capensis (∼0.9 g) using a novel method for collecting data on small lizards, a method previously used for arthropods. We measured CO 2 production during 5-10 min of exhaustive exercise (in response to stimulus) and during a 45-min recovery period. During exercise, we measured speed (for each meter moved) as well as total distance traveled. Contrary to our expectations, tailless geckos overall expended less effort in escape running, moving both slower and for a shorter distance, compared with when they were intact. Tailless geckos also exhibited lower excess CO 2 production (CO 2 production in excess of normal resting metabolic rate) during exercising. This may be due to reduced metabolically active tissue (tails represent 8.7% of their initial body mass). An alternative suggestion is that a change in energy substrate use may take place after tail loss. This is an intriguing finding that warrants future biochemical investigation before we can predict the relative costs of tail loss that lizards might experience under natural conditions.

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The Gross Anatomy of the Original and Regenerated Tail in the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Ritzman

Stroik

Julik

et al. 2012

The Anatomical Record

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This study investigates the gross anatomy of the original and the regenerated tail in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis). Dissections were conducted on 24 original and 13 regenerated tails. While the extrinsic muscles of the original tail in A. carolinensis are similar to those in other known Anolis lizard species, the extent of the origins of m. caudofemoralis longus and m. caudofemoralis brevis is more restricted. These differences may underlie variation in locomotor performance among anole ecomorphs. The intrinsic muscles of the original tail are also described, confirming previous findings and documenting new details, including muscle origins and insertions and the range of intraspecific variation. A comparison of the intrinsic muscles of the original tail and the regenerated tail muscles reveals key differences, such as the lack of interdigitating muscle segments and intramuscular septa in the regenerated tail. These findings, along with the replacement of interlocking vertebrae with a stiff, cartilaginous rod, suggest that important functional differences exist between the original and regenerated tail. In particular, the regenerated tail is predicted to be less capable of coordinated, fine movements. Studies of the physical properties and range of motion of the original and regenerated tail are required to test this hypothesis. This atlas of tail anatomy in A. carolinensis represents a key resource for developmental and genetic studies of tail regeneration in lizards, as well as studies of anole evolution and biomechanics. Anat Rec, 295:1596Rec, 295: -1608

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Behavioural compensation for tail loss in the ground skink, Scincella lateralis

Cited by 100 publications

References 7 publications

Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

Jettisoning Ballast or Fuel? Caudal Autotomy and Locomotory Energetics of the Cape Dwarf GeckoLygodactylus capensis(Gekkonidae)

The Gross Anatomy of the Original and Regenerated Tail in the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

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