Telling Tails: Selective Pressures Acting on Investment in Lizard Tails

Fleming, Patricia A.; Valentine, Leonie E.; Bateman, Philip W.

doi:10.1086/673864

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(102 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Overall, the outcome is that the relatively bigger the tail, the greater the negative impact on sprint speed. Tail volume (and thus mass) explains more of this effect than tail length, an interesting outcome that bears comparison with the findings of Fleming et al (2013) and Lynn et al (2013). Various possible reasons for this association are explored, and it is noted that in a similar vein to the findings of Fleming et al (2013), there are likely strong phylogenetic effects associated with particular regions of the lizard phylogenetic tree.…”

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 80%

“…Tail volume (and thus mass) explains more of this effect than tail length, an interesting outcome that bears comparison with the findings of Fleming et al (2013) and Lynn et al (2013). Various possible reasons for this association are explored, and it is noted that in a similar vein to the findings of Fleming et al (2013), there are likely strong phylogenetic effects associated with particular regions of the lizard phylogenetic tree. The authors ponder the variation evident in their data and suggest that performance traits other than sprint speed and acceleration are likely to be of importance and should be considered further.…”

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 80%

“…The article by Fleming et al (2013) examines the great variety of form expressed by the lizard tail and asks questions about the relationships between tail form and the incidence of tail loss (and regeneration). As such, they explore aspects of ecological energetics, examining a broad array of lizards (350 species).…”

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It appears, however, that there may be ontogenetic shifts in priorities within the same species. Tail type and foraging mode (as pointed out in Fleming et al 2013) may influence the propensity for compensatory growth. Lynn et al (2013) note that the life history consequences of caudal regeneration require considerably more study.…”

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maximum sprint speed and maximum acceleration are employed as measures of the impact of autotomy on locomotor performance. As was done by Fleming et al (2013), relative tail length is examined as a variable, along with tail volume and body volume. The available data indicate that the majority of lizard species incur a negative impact on maximum sprint speed when the tail is lost.…”

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Integrative Biology of Tail Autotomy in Lizards

Higham¹,

Russell²,

Zani³

2013

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Self-amputation (autotomy) of the tail is essential for the survival of many lizards. Accordingly, it has garnered the attention of scientists for more than 200 years. Several factors can influence the release of the tail, such as the size, sex, and age of the lizard; type of predator; ecology; and evolutionary history of the lineage. Once lost, the tail will writhe for seconds to minutes, and these movements likely depend on the size and physiology of the tail, habitat of the lizard, and predation pressure. Loss of the tail will, in turn, have impacts on the lizard, such as modified locomotor performance and mechanics, as well as escape behavior. However, the tail is almost always regenerated, and this involves wound healing, altered investment of resources, and tissue differentiation. The regenerated tail generally differs from the original in several ways, including size, shape, and function. Here we summarize recent findings of research pertaining to tail autotomy, and we propose a framework for future investigations.

show abstract

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Summaries Of the Contributions In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Integrative Biology of Tail Autotomy in Lizards

Higham¹,

Russell²,

Zani³

2013

Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Tail autotomy works as a pre‐capture defense by deflecting attacks

Naidenov

Allen

2021

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Caudal autotomy is a dramatic antipredator adaptation where prey shed their tail in order to escape capture by a predator. The mechanism underlying the effectiveness of caudal autotomy as a pre-capture defense has not been thoroughly investigated.We tested two nonexclusive hypotheses, that caudal autotomy works by providing the predator with a "consolation prize" that makes it break off the hunt to consume the shed tail, and the deflection hypothesis, where the autotomy event directs predator attacks to the autotomized tail enabling prey escape. Our experiment utilized domestic dogs Canis familiaris as model predator engaged to chase a snake-like stimulus with a detachable tail. The tail was manipulated to vary in length (long versus short) and conspicuousness (green versus blue), with the prediction that dog attacks on the tail should increase with length under the consolation-prize hypothesis and conspicuous color under the deflection hypothesis. The tail was attacked on 35% of trials, supporting the potential for pre-capture autotomy to offer antipredator benefits. Dogs were attracted to the tail when it was conspicuously colored, but not when it was longer. This supports the idea that deflection of predator attacks through visual effects is the prime antipredator mechanism underlying the effectiveness of caudal autotomy as opposed to provision of a consolation prize meal.

show abstract

Density and distribution of cutaneous sensilla on tails of leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) in relation to caudal autotomy

Russell

Lai

Higham

2014

Journal of Morphology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The lizard tail is well known for its ability to autotomize and regenerate. Physical contact of the tail by a predator may induce autotomy at the location at which the tail is grasped, and upon detachment the tail may undergo violent, rapid, and unpredictable movements that appear to be, to some degree, regulated by contact with the physical environment. Neither the mechanism by which tail breakage at a particular location is determined, nor that by which environmental feedback to the tail is received, are known. It has been suggested that mechanoreceptors (sensilla) are the means of mediation of such activities, and reports indicate that the density of sensilla on the tail is high. To determine the feasibility that mechanoreceptors are involved in such phenomena, we mapped scale form and the size, density, distribution, and spacing of sensilla on the head, body, limbs, and tail of the leopard gecko. This species has a full complement of autotomy planes along the length of the tail, and the postautotomic behavior of its tail has been documented. We found that the density of sensilla is highest on the tail relative to all other body regions examined; a dorsoventral gradient of caudal sensilla density is evident on the tail; sensilla are more closely spaced on the dorsal and lateral regions of the tail than elsewhere and are carried on relatively small scales; and that the whorls of scales on the tail bear a one to one relationship with the autotomy planes. Our results are consistent with the hypotheses of sensilla being involved in determining the site at which autotomy will occur, and with them being involved in the mediation of tail behavior following autotomy. These findings open the way for experimental neurological investigations of how autotomy is induced and how the detached tail responds to external environmental input.

show abstract

Telling Tails: Selective Pressures Acting on Investment in Lizard Tails

Cited by 24 publications

References 77 publications

Integrative Biology of Tail Autotomy in Lizards

Integrative Biology of Tail Autotomy in Lizards

Tail autotomy works as a pre‐capture defense by deflecting attacks

Density and distribution of cutaneous sensilla on tails of leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) in relation to caudal autotomy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About