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

An integrative analysis of the short-term effects of tail autotomy on thermoregulation and dehydration rates in wall lizards

Journal of Thermal Biology ◽

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.102976 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102976

Author(s):

Irene Fernández-Rodríguez ◽

Frederico M. Barroso ◽

Miguel A. Carretero

Keyword(s):

Integrative Analysis ◽

Short Term ◽

Tail Autotomy ◽

Short Term Effects

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Tales of lizard tails: effects of tail autotomy on subsequent survival and growth of free-ranging hatchling Uta stansburiana

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z97-067 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 542-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

P. H. Niewiarowski ◽

J. D. Congdon ◽

A. E. Dunham ◽

L. J. Vitt ◽

D. W. Tinkle

Keyword(s):

Natural Populations ◽

Reproductive Investment ◽

Experimental Manipulation ◽

Costs And Benefits ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Large Sample ◽

Uta Stansburiana ◽

Tail Autotomy ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Free Ranging

Potential costs and benefits of tail autotomy in lizards have been inferred almost exclusively from experimental study in semi-natural enclosures and from indirect comparative evidence from natural populations. We present complementary evidence of the costs of tail autotomy to the lizard Uta stansburiana from detailed demographic study of a natural population. On initial capture, we broke the tails of a large sample of free-ranging hatchlings (560) and left the tails of another large sample (455) intact, and then followed subsequent hatchling growth and survival over a 3-year period. Surprisingly, in 1 out of the 3 years of study, survival of female hatchlings with broken tails exceeded that of female hatchlings with intact tails. Furthermore, no effects of tail loss on survivorship were detected for male hatchlings. However, in 2 years when recaptures were very frequent (1961, 1962), growth rates of hatchlings with broken tails were significantly slower than those of their counterparts with intact tails. We discuss our results in the broader context of estimating the relative costs and benefits of tail autotomy in natural populations, and suggest that long-term demographic studies will provide the best opportunity to assess realized fitness costs and benefits with minimum bias. We also describe how experimentally induced tail autotomy can be used as a technique to complement experimental manipulation of reproductive investment in the study of life-history trade-offs.

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Postautotomy tail movement differs between colour morphs of the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00003107 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 395-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Banan W. Otaibi ◽

Quincey K. Johnson ◽

Bradley J. Cosentino

Keyword(s):

Natural Selection ◽

Genetic Correlation ◽

Behavioural Response ◽

Plethodon Cinereus ◽

Predation Pressure ◽

Tail Autotomy ◽

Tail Movement ◽

Colour Morphs ◽

Defensive Mechanism

Striped and unstriped colour morphs of the eastern red-backed salamander,Plethodon cinereus, vary in their pre-attack behavioural response to predators, but it is unknown whether the morphs vary in post-attack strategies. Both morphs employ tail autotomy, a post-attack defensive mechanism enabling an individual to release a portion of their tail to facilitate escape from predation. Postautotomy tail movement diverts attention of a predator away from the individual’s body, so natural selection should favor vigorous tail movement in both colour morphs ofP. cinereus. We compared the degree of postautotomy tail movement between morphs following simulated predation. Striped individuals exhibited substantially longer and faster tail movement than unstriped individuals. Divergence in postautotomy tail movement may be a direct evolved response to variable predation pressure between colour morphs. Alternatively, tail movement may be constrained in the unstriped morph due to a genetic correlation with colouration (e.g., pleiotropy).

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