To cut a long tail short: a review of lizard caudal autotomy studies carried out over the last 20 years

Bateman, Philip W.; Fleming, Patricia A.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00484.x

Cited by 321 publications

(350 citation statements)

References 111 publications

(287 reference statements)

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“…Many aspects of lizard tail autotomy, including its histological mechanisms, ecological significance, intraand interspecific variability, phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history have received considerable attention (reviews in [8] and [9]). One facet that has not been considered is the question of whether predators may develop (within a lifetime or on an evolutionary scale) behavioural mechanisms that lower the effectiveness of tail autotomy as an escape tactic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing through the lizard’s trick: do avian predators avoid autotomous tails?

2011

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Counter-adaptations of predators towards their prey are a far less investigated phenomenon in predator-prey interactions. Caudal autotomy is generally considered an effective last-resort mechanism for evading predators. However, in victim-exploiter relationships, the efficacy of a strategy will obviously depend on the antagonist’s ability to counter it. In the logic of the predator-prey arms race, one would expect predators to develop attack strategies that minimize the chance of autotomy of the prey and damage on the predator. We tested whether avian predators preferred grasping lizards by their head. We constructed plasticine models of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) and placed them in natural habitat of the species. Judging from counts of beak marks on the models, birds preferentially attack the head and might also avoid the tail and limb regions. While a preference for the head might not necessarily demonstrate tail and limb avoidance, this topic needs further exploration because it suggests that even unspecialised avian predators may see through the lizard’s trick-of-the-tail. This result may have implications for our understanding of the evolution of this peculiar defensive system and the loss or decreased tendency to shed the tail on island systems with the absence of terrestrial predators.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing through the lizard’s trick: do avian predators avoid autotomous tails?

2011

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“…Many lizard species, including species in the genera Tropidurus and Copeoglossum, avoid predation by doing a caudal autotomy strategy (Bateman and Fleming, 2009). However, such strategy could be ineffective against G. guira, because the bird seems to attack preys more frequently on the head than on other body parts.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Register of predation upon species of reptiles by Guira guira (Aves: Cuculidae)

Smaniotto

Moreira

Dorado-Rodrigues

2017

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

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Although we have a good understanding of how predation can influence community structure, we still have little information about how predation by visually oriented birds can be a significant source of mortality for reptiles. We observed adults of Guira guira feeding their offspring with four different species of reptiles, namely Amphisbaena vermicularis, Copeoglossum nigropunctatum, Iguana iguana and Tropidurus torquatus. It is the first report of G. guira predation on A. vermicularis and C. nigropunctatum. Although G. guira has been recognized as insectivorous, we believe that predation of small cryptozoic reptiles is a common event during bird breeding season.

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“…On loss of their tail, lizards may incur a number of costs (reviewed in Arnold 1984Arnold , 1988Bateman and Fleming 2008). 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).…”

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

confidence: 99%

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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To cut a long tail short: a review of lizard caudal autotomy studies carried out over the last 20 years

Cited by 321 publications

References 111 publications

Seeing through the lizard’s trick: do avian predators avoid autotomous tails?

Seeing through the lizard’s trick: do avian predators avoid autotomous tails?

Register of predation upon species of reptiles by Guira guira (Aves: Cuculidae)

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

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