Many people have seen lizards in houses, but have they ever wondered what happens if its tail detaches from the body? Seeing such a phenomenon raises the question of the mechanism of the tail's movement after separation. A very curious natural mechanism inherent to lizards is behind this process.
Lizards possess a special defense mechanism against predators. When an animal is attacked, some species of lizards detach a part of their tail from the body. This process is called autotomy. The lizard's tail has specific areas from which it can detach it when necessary. After such an action, the lizard quickly escapes, making tail shedding a means of survival.
The question arises as to how the tail continues to move after it has detached from the body. The answer lies in the lizard's nerves and muscles. Even immediately after the tail detaches, nerve activity persists in some of its nerves. Furthermore, the muscles in the tail continue to contract and relax for some time. This is why a tail lying on the ground can move or twitch by itself.
This tail movement can be very useful for the lizard. When a predator tries to grab the lizard, and at that moment the tail detaches and begins to move, the predator's attention may be drawn to this moving tail. The predator is distracted by the tail for a short time, and during this time, the lizard is given the opportunity to escape. Thus, the lizard uses its tail as a kind of diversionary weapon.
Despite the fact that losing its tail can save its life, this does not mean the tail is useless. The tail helps the lizard maintain balance and move. In some species, the tail also serves as a reserve of extra fat accumulated in the body. Consequently, losing the tail entails certain losses for the lizard.
One of the most interesting features of lizards is the ability of many species to regenerate a lost tail. However, the new tail is not exactly identical to the old one. The internal structure of the newly formed tail may differ from the original. Nevertheless, it still helps the lizard perform normal functions. Thus, the lizard's body strives to create a new tail in place of the detached one.
