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RE: Poor lizard

Steve 95 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:51:29 GMT

Melisa Kaplan is my ultimate source of finding info about herps

RE: Poor lizard

GreenAnole09 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:08:58 GMT

Thank you.

RE: Poor lizard

blkfirecrystal — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:59:58 GMT

TheAnole95 (8/12/2008)

how does the droped tale happen. I mean, we can't just decide to have our arm fall off. And they don't pull there tale off

From Melissa Kaplan:

Autotomy (auto = self, tomos = cut) is the self-induced releasing of a specific body part. In certain lizards, it is the tail that autotomizes; in plethodontid salamanders (terrestrial salamanders lacking gills and lungs in the adult form), it is their tails, digits, and portions of their limbs. Lizards do not autotomize their digits or limbs. If your lizard's toes have are falling off, this is a serious medical problem that requires veterinary attention now. In a few lizards, it is pieces of skin that autotomize, a defense strategy known as "fragile skin."
Tail Autotomy
In lizards who have evolved tail autotomy as an escape strategy, the tail color, pattern and movements are often such that the predator's attention is directed to the tail: bright tail color, sharply contrasting colors and patterns, and stereotypic "twitching" back and forth as the lizard remains still or slowly repositions itself so as to launch itself away from the predator, are various ways in which such lizards may be identified. One notable exception is the species of legless lizards: despite looking like they are all tail, they can autotomize their actual tail (caudal to the vent).
Lizard tails separate at "fracture planes" that are regularly spaced along the length of the tail, either in between vertebrae or in the middle of each vertebrae. Just as tissue and skin grow to fill in a scratch, gouge or excised (surgically removed) tissue, so, too, does it regrow in those lizards who evolved autotomy.
Tail loss is costly: it represents a loss of fat and protein (energy), both that stored in the tail and that which is dedicated towards the regrowth of a new tail. During this time, young lizards especially are at higher risk for being preyed upon (there may be little or nothing else to drop). During the recovery period, they stop growing. If it happens to an adult, their reproductive life goes on hold, with gamete production stopped during this period.
Since color and pattern is so important both in predator evasion and in social communication with conspecifics (other members of the same species), the absence of a tail can affect the lizard's ability to survive and to find mates and reproduce. While autotomy is costly in terms of the overall loss to the lizard, it is apparently quite effective as a survival strategy as this defense strategy is fairly widespread through the lizard families.
Fragile Skin
Some lizards (some skinks and geckos) release skin rather than a digit, limb or tail. That part of the skin that has been grabbed by a predator is release. Such releases apparently happen only when the skin is seized, as opposed to tail drops in which the tail may be dropped before it is actually seized. This "fragile skin" trait is so well developed in one gecko that its scientific name reflects this trait: Gehyra mutilata (mutilated gecko).

RE: Poor lizard

GreenAnole09 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:41:28 GMT

I guess Anoles can deside to drop their tail at anytime.That's what happened to me.Ether way it's weird when the drop the tail and you are not even touching it.

RE: Poor lizard

Steve 95 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:25:27 GMT

how does the droped tale happen. I mean, we can't just decide to have our arm fall off. And they don't pull there tale off

RE: Poor lizard

GreenAnole09 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:11:52 GMT

blkfirecrystal (8/11/2008)

Maybe you'll see her again, with a black stub. Be sure to tell her it looks pretty and you can be friends.

Mabe I will see her again.

I'm glad that she wasn't going to die,but,weird thing is I was not holding her by the tail and she just dropped it.Weird.

One time I saw a big male brown anole and I mean HUGE!I went to look at it,and I was not even touching it and it dropped it's tail and I thought that was funny 'cause it looked like a big tough thing and he dropped his tail even though I didn't even touch him.

RE: Poor lizard

the herptile master — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:50:29 GMT

After a experence like that, i would not go herping for a month or so. I would have low self-asteem.

RE: Poor lizard

blkfirecrystal — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:36:56 GMT

Yes, I have had experience with wilds dropping their tails, especially with Scincella lateralis, common ground skinks. These guys love rotting leaves and logs, as do the eastern hognose snake, which was my quarry during my June 2007 treks in Lick Creek Park, Texas.

Most likely she will be fine. It's natural for them to drop tail while in the hands of a "predator" such as yourself. You and I know you meant no harm, but she was afraid and did what instinct says. Some individuals let out a lot of blood, but they are resilient critters. Maybe you'll see her again, with a black stub. Be sure to tell her it looks pretty and you can be friends.

Poor lizard

GreenAnole09 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:12:05 GMT

I was outside,catching lizards,observing them and letting them go like I always do when I caught a Brown Anole female and-keep in mind I was not holding her by the tail-she dropped her tail and that tail was bleeding alot.She was getting blood all over my hand and then started producing urine,feces,and something that I would presume was dihereah rapidly non stop.I was about to put her in a cage to stop the tail from bleeding so heavly(She looked like if she didn't stop the bleeding,she would die from blood-loss)but,then,she wiggled free and hid really well.I went inside and washed her blood off my hands as well as whatever other germs she was carrying but,I can't stop thinking about her and that she may die or something.Has this,or something simalar,ever happened to you people?