Effect of Caudal Autotomy on Locomotor Performance of Wall Lizards (Podarcis muralis)

Brown, Rafe M.; Taylor, Douglas H.; Gist, Daniel H.

doi:10.2307/1565091

Cited by 91 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In arboreal environments, prehensile tails (11) facilitate resting balance and slow climbing. However, tail function during rapid climbing, aerial descent, and gliding is largely unknown (10,12,13). To examine the tail's role in each behavior, we studied the flat-tailed house gecko, Cosymbotus platyurus, because it is agile and has a sizeable, active tail.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Active tails enhance arboreal acrobatics in geckos

Jusufi

Goldman

Revzen

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

210

232

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Geckos are nature's elite climbers. Their remarkable climbing feats have been attributed to specialized feet with hairy toes that uncurl and peel in milliseconds. Here, we report that the secret to the gecko's arboreal acrobatics includes an active tail. We examine the tail's role during rapid climbing, aerial descent, and gliding. We show that a gecko's tail functions as an emergency fifth leg to prevent falling during rapid climbing. A response initiated by slipping causes the tail tip to push against the vertical surface, thereby preventing pitch-back of the head and upper body. When pitch-back cannot be prevented, geckos avoid falling by placing their tail in a posture similar to a bicycle's kickstand. Should a gecko fall with its back to the ground, a swing of its tail induces the most rapid, zero-angular momentum air-righting response yet measured. Once righted to a sprawled gliding posture, circular tail movements control yaw and pitch as the gecko descends. Our results suggest that large, active tails can function as effective control appendages. These results have provided biological inspiration for the design of an active tail on a climbing robot, and we anticipate their use in small, unmanned gliding vehicles and multisegment spacecraft.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Active tails enhance arboreal acrobatics in geckos

Jusufi

Goldman

Revzen

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

210

232

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“…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). In fact, Christinus marmoratus geckos (Daniels 1983) and Podarcis muralis lacertids (Brown et al 1995) become significantly faster in escape over horizontal surfaces after loss of their tail.…”

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

confidence: 99%

“…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). In fact, Christinus marmoratus geckos (Daniels 1983) and Podarcis muralis lacertids (Brown et al 1995) become significantly faster in escape over horizontal surfaces after loss of their tail. Brown et al (1995) interpret the lizards' faster responses as reflecting differences in antipredator strategies.…”

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

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, Christinus marmoratus geckos (Daniels 1983) and Podarcis muralis lacertids (Brown et al 1995) become significantly faster in escape over horizontal surfaces after loss of their tail. Brown et al (1995) interpret the lizards' faster responses as reflecting differences in antipredator strategies. For the geckos, however, it was suggested that, since they store fat in their tails, they are lighter and experience reduced friction with the substrate after tail loss (Daniels 1983).…”

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

confidence: 99%

“…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). To date, only two gecko species have been tested, both over very short distances.…”

Section: Tail Autotomy Reduces Locomotion Performance In Lygodactylusmentioning

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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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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Effect of Caudal Autotomy on Locomotor Performance of Wall Lizards (Podarcis muralis)

Cited by 91 publications

References 22 publications

Active tails enhance arboreal acrobatics in geckos

Active tails enhance arboreal acrobatics in geckos

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)

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