Modern Reptile with Ability to Drop Tail (IMAGE)

University of Toronto

Modern Reptile with Ability to Drop Tail

Caption

This is a picture of Ctenosaura sp. Mexico, common name spiny iguana, that has dropped and regenerated its tail! This kind of lizards probably only drop their tails when sufficient force is applied (by rivals or by predators grabbing the tails) and is most similar to captorhinid caudal autotomy. A bit of force was probably needed to break through the vertebrae. On the other hand, geckos are a good example of a voluntary kind of autotomy where they can just drop their tail if they FEEL threatened.

Credit

Aaron LeBlanc

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