Effects of tail loss on the movement patterns of the lizard, <i>Psammodromus algirus</i>

Martı́n, José; Avery, R. A.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1998.00247.x

Cited by 100 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In addition to the long-term metabolic cost of replacing tissue (Vitt et al 1977;Bellairs and Bryant 1985), in the short-term lizards lose fat reserves stored in their tails (Avery 1970;Vitt et al 1977;Dial and Fitzpatrick 1981;Daniels 1984;Daniels et al 1986;Arnold 1988;Chapple and Swain 2002a;Chapple et al 2002;Doughty et al 2003). Increased pausing during escape (e.g., Martín and Avery 1998;Lin and Ji 2005) and reduced stamina (Daniels 1985b;Martín and Avery 1998;Chapple and Swain 2002b; this study) due to autotomy may reflect an energetic cost in terms of reduction in fat reserves to sustain locomotion. The role of fatty acids in exercising lizard muscle is speculative, yet it certainly warrants further investigation.…”

Section: Tail Autotomy Affects Active Metabolic Performance In Lygodamentioning

confidence: 77%

“…These results are in line with the few other studies that have been conducted on the effect of tail autotomy on running endurance or stamina. Distances moved by Psammodromus algirus postautotomy are significantly shorter (Martín and Avery 1998), swimming stamina is reduced in the water skink Eulamprus (Sphenomorphus) quoyii postautotomy (Daniels 1985b), and female (but not male) Niveoscincus metallicus demonstrate a 36% decrease in endurance capacity postautotomy (Chapple and Swain 2002b).…”

Section: Tail Autotomy Reduces Locomotion Performance In Lygodactylusmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…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%

“…Tailless L. capensis exhibited lower CO 2 production during exercise compared with when intact, which may reflect reduced body mass, as was proposed by Daniels (1983) for C. marmoratus. Additionally, many lizards have actively functional tails that help the animal to correct for the disequilibrium caused at each stride; for example, loss of stride length (Martín and Avery 1998), stability (Ballinger 1973;Daniels 1985b), and thrust or momentum (Daniels 1985b) may all be consequences of tail autotomy. The reduction in CO 2 production recorded for L. capensis may therefore reflect reduced mass or reduced amount of metabolically active tissue (due to loss of the tail musculature); however, these possibilities are less likely to explain why these geckos demonstrated reduced stamina.…”

Section: Tail Autotomy Affects Active Metabolic Performance In Lygodamentioning

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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Section: Tail Autotomy Affects Active Metabolic Performance In Lygodamentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Tail Autotomy Reduces Locomotion Performance In Lygodactylusmentioning

confidence: 97%

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

confidence: 99%

Section: Tail Autotomy Reduces Locomotion Performance In Lygodactylusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tail Autotomy Affects Active Metabolic Performance In Lygodamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

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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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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Life‐history differences across latitude in common side‐blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana)

Smith

Zani

French

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Life‐history strategies are known to shift with latitude in many species. While life‐history variation related to body size, reproductive investment, and behavior has been studied for years, another crucial life‐history component is the immune system, which can influence an animal's survival. We measured selected life‐history traits in side‐blotched lizards in southern Utah and Oregon in the field for two consecutive years and conducted a common‐garden experiment in the laboratory to determine how organisms from different latitudes optimize either immunity or reproduction. We observed lizards from southern populations, which are known to be shorter‐lived, had lower immune function during reproduction when compared to northern lizards in 2012, but the relationship reversed in the following year. Our laboratory study revealed that southern lizards healed cutaneous wounds faster and had higher microbiocidal ability when compared to their northern counterparts, but lost mass doing so. The northern lizards ate more than the southern ones and maintained their body mass. It is possible that northern lizards are better adapted to taking advantage of available food resources. Alternatively, southern lizards may have exhibited sickness behavior in response to an immune challenge or reacted more strongly to the stress of captivity. We found differences in life‐history strategies used by animals from different latitudes, and that these changes can shift within a population depending on the weather conditions of the year. Furthermore, when taken from the field and placed into a common‐garden environment, some of these differences in strategy appear to be intrinsic to the animals (i.e., whether they came from southern or northern populations).

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Effects of tail loss on the movement patterns of the lizard, Psammodromus algirus

Cited by 100 publications

References 37 publications

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

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)

Life‐history differences across latitude in common side‐blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana)

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