Tail loss reduces mating success in the Iberian rock-lizard, Lacerta monticola

Martı́n, José; Salvador, Alfredo

doi:10.1007/bf00173776

Cited by 132 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Although the immediate benefits of caudal autotomy are obvious, potential costs are numerous, if less clear, and may include energetic constraints (Ballinger and Tinkle, 1979;Congdon et al, 1974;Dial and Fitzpatrick, 1981;Naya et al, 2007), loss of social status (Fox et al, 1990;Fox and Rostker, 1982), decrements in locomotor speed and endurance Brown et al, 1995;Chapple et al, 2004;Daniels, 1985;Lin et al, 2006;Martin and Avery, 1998;Punzo, 1982) and reductions in territory size and access to females (Martin and Salvador, 1993;Salvador et al, 1995;Salvador et al, 1996). Given the high frequency with which lizards lose and regenerate parts of their tails in natural populations (in some studies greater than 50%) (Vitt et al, 1977) and the potential range of costs imposed, the functional consequences of tail loss are ecologically important.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Losing stability: tail loss and jumping in the arboreal lizardAnolis carolinensis

Gillis

Bonvini

Irschick

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

101

108

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SUMMARYVoluntary loss of an appendage, or autotomy, is a remarkable behavior that is widespread among many arthropods and lower vertebrates. Its immediate benefit, generally escape from a predator, is balanced by various costs, including impaired locomotor performance, reproductive success and long-term survival. Among vertebrates, autotomy is most widespread in lizards, in which tail loss has been documented in close to 100 species. Despite numerous studies of the potential costs of tail autotomy in lizards, none have focused on the importance of the tail in jumping. Using high-speed video we recorded jumps from six lizards (Anolis carolinensis) both before and after removing 80% of the tail to test the hypothesis that tail loss has a significant effect on jumping kinematics. Several key performance metrics, including jump distance and takeoff velocity, were not affected by experimental tail removal, averaging 21 cm and 124 cm s Supplementary material available online at

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Losing stability: tail loss and jumping in the arboreal lizardAnolis carolinensis

Gillis

Bonvini

Irschick

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

101

108

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“…Lizard tails may have important functions such as balancing the body while perched (Ballinger 1973), storing energy in the form of fat, and aiding in locomotion (Vitt and Ballinger 1982). Additionally, lizards with non-autotomized tails tend to occupy dominant status in social hierarchies (Martín and Salvador 1993). Thus, loss of part of the tail may impose costs for lizards such as reduced growth (Niewiarowski et al 1997) and impaired reproduction (Martín and Salvador 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, lizards with non-autotomized tails tend to occupy dominant status in social hierarchies (Martín and Salvador 1993). Thus, loss of part of the tail may impose costs for lizards such as reduced growth (Niewiarowski et al 1997) and impaired reproduction (Martín and Salvador 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil

Galdino¹,

Pereira²,

Fontes³

et al. 2006

Phyllomedusa

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Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil. Defense behavior of the endemic tropidurid lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae was studied in an area of rocky outcrops at Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Tail loss aspects of this species were also studied in lizards from three populations (Diamantina, Serra do Cipó, and Serro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Lizards relied primarily on crypsis to avoid detection by predators. Secondary defense strategies involved a complex set of behaviors. Mean maximum distance of flight was 1.68 ± 1.70 m. When captured, individuals attempted to flee, lifted the tail, produced distress calls, discharged the cloacal contents, waived their tails, and bit. Frequency of tail autotomy was 13.2% (n = 53) in Diamantina, 11.9% (n = 42) in Serra do Cipó, and 4.1% (n = 49) in Serro. Tail autotomy frequency did not differ among the three populations (X 2 = 3.3, DF = 2, p = 0.19). Tail autotomy did not vary between the years of the study (X 2 = 1.32, p= 0.35) and did not differ between males and females among the studied populations.

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“…Sin embargo, no en todos los taxa el afecto por perder la cola es el mismo, pues las consecuencias dependerán de la función que este órgano cumple en cada uno de ellos. Por ejemplo, en Cnemidophorus ( = Aspidoscelis) sexlinetus, Cophosaurus texanus, Podarcis muralis, Scincella lateralis y Uma notata se encontró que perder la cola entorpece la locomoción y reduce la velocidad de escape (Ballinger et al 1979;Brown et al1995;Dial 1984;Punzo 1982); mientras que en Uta stansburiana disminuyó su rango social (Fox et al 1998;Fox & Rostker 1982); en Coleonyx brevis, Lacerta montícola, Mabuya heathi, Psammodromus algiricus, y U. stansburiana, se observó una reducción en el éxito reproductor (Dial & Fitzpatrick 1981;Fox & McCoy 2000;Martin & Salvador 1993;Salvador et al 1996;Vitt 1981); en Psammodromus algiricus la captura de presas fue afectada negativamente (Martin & Avery 1997), mientras que en S. lateralis, el comportamiento defensivo se modificó (Formanowicz et al 1990a).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Frecuencia de pérdida de la cola en un ensamble de lagartijas de Oaxaca, México

García-Rosales

Martínez–Coronel

2016

AZM

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El presente estudio evaluó la influencia de la edad, el sexo y el hábitat sobre la frecuencia de pérdida de la cola en tres especies de lagartijas endémicas a México. Los taxa tratados son Sceloporus bicanthalis, S. subpictus y Mesaspis gadovii, las cuales son simpátricas en las montañas de los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca. Las diferencias en la frecuencia de pérdida de la cola fueron evaluadas por sexo, edad, hábitat y especie mediante una prueba de Chi cuadrada en un tamaño de muestra de 259 organismos recolectados entre abril de 2010 y marzo de 2011. Los resultados indican que la estructura del hábitat, el sexo o la edad de los individuos (excepto en M. gadovii) no influyeron de manera significativa en la frecuencia de mutilación de la cola en las tres especies analizadas. Sin embargo, se presentaron diferencias significativas entre especies, estas diferencias pueden ser consecuencia del comportamiento agonístico propio de cada especie, y de una presión de depredación diferente para cada taxon.

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Tail loss reduces mating success in the Iberian rock-lizard, Lacerta monticola

Cited by 132 publications

References 28 publications

Losing stability: tail loss and jumping in the arboreal lizardAnolis carolinensis

Losing stability: tail loss and jumping in the arboreal lizardAnolis carolinensis

Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil

Frecuencia de pérdida de la cola en un ensamble de lagartijas de Oaxaca, México

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