Why do lizards (geckos) drop their tails and can they regrow them, and how long does it take?
Lizards are commonly known as “four-legged snakes” and are also called “snake's aunt”; they are distributed all over the world. They belong to the cold-blooded reptiles and have a great many species. So what kind of behavior is tail dropping in lizards (geckos)? Can the tail grow back? How long does it take to grow back?
What kind of behavior is tail dropping in lizards (geckos)?
When geckos, lizards and similar animals have their tails bitten by a natural enemy or run into danger, they often break off their own tails to draw the enemy's attention, seize the chance to flee and so escape with their lives. This can be described as a way of surviving by sacrificing a part to save the whole. It is a self-defense survival skill of theirs, and can also be called an instinct.
Can a dropped tail grow back in lizards (geckos)?
A gecko will not drop its tail in normal life, but if it meets danger it will drop its tail; this is self-defense, an instinctive response to danger. When it is pulled by an outside force or encounters an enemy, the muscles of the tail contract strongly, which can make the tail break off. The piece that falls off can still twitch for a while because there are still nerves inside it. In zoology this phenomenon is called “autotomy”. Because in the tail vertebrae of a gecko there is a smooth joint surface that connects the front and rear halves of the tail vertebrae, and the muscles, skin and scales at this place are relatively thin and loose, so when the tail is attacked it can swing its body violently and, through the powerful contraction of the tail muscles, cause the tail vertebrae to break at the joint surface; moreover, the tail has a strong amino acid fluid, and once it meets the mucus the tail is quickly dropped. The gecko's tail also contains a liquid substance called guanine, which it has from birth. So if a gecko's tail is clamped by something, it will turn itself over on its own, causing the tail to drop, and in this way achieve the effect of saving its life.
How long does it take for a dropped tail to grow back in lizards (geckos)?
As for growing a new tail, this is because the tail substance melts and dissolves; after about 2-3 months a longer new tail will grow out. In nature, geckos drop their tails to survive, sea cucumbers eject their internal organs to save their lives, and fire salamanders cut off their limbs and grow new ones; all of these are painful yet wise decisions made in order to survive.
Lizard living habits:
Most species are carnivorous, feeding on insects, earthworms, snails and even mice. But some feed mainly on cacti or seaweed, or are omnivorous.
Most lizards feed on insects and some rodents, and occasionally on poultry; their teeth are sharp and have 3 tooth cusps. In herbivorous ones (such as iguanas) the tooth crowns are broad, leaf-shaped, with serrated cutting edges. In those that feed on mollusks and crustaceans (such as the caiman lizard genus) there are blunt rounded teeth at the rear of the palate for crushing. The Gila monster of the southwestern United States and its close relatives in Mexico are venomous and bite only when provoked, but rarely fatally; the inner side of each tooth of the lower jaw has a groove or fold used to conduct venom. The teeth of most lizards grow on the edges of the maxilla, premaxilla and dentary, while in a few species they grow on the palate. In the embryonic stage there are “egg teeth” on the premaxilla, projecting forward from the snout and used to drill through the eggshell; they degenerate after hatching. The teeth are mostly attached in the pleurodont manner, and in some species in the acrodont manner; the two eyes of chameleons can move independently. Many lizards have salt glands used to excrete mineral salts. A shoulder girdle is present.