Some vaguely explored (but not trivial) costs of tail autotomy in lizards
Author
dc.contributor.author
Naya, Daniel E.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Veloso, Claudio
Author
dc.contributor.author
Muñoz, José L.P.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Bozinovic, Francisco
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2019-03-11T12:53:19Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2019-03-11T12:53:19Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2007
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Volumen 146, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 189-193
Identifier
dc.identifier.issn
10956433
Identifier
dc.identifier.issn
15314332
Identifier
dc.identifier.other
10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.10.014
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/164273
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Lizard tail autotomy is considered an efficient anti-predator strategy that allows animals to escape from a predator attack. However, since the tail also is involved in many alternative functions, tailless animals must cope with several costs following autotomy. Here we explicitly evaluate the consequences of tail autotomy for two costs that have been virtually unexplored: 1. we test whether the anatomical change that occurs after tail loss causes a reduction in the role of the tail as a distraction mechanism to predators; 2. we analyzed whether tail synthesis comprises an energetically costly process in itself, by directly comparing the cost of maintenance before and after autotomy. We found that original tails displace further and at greater velocity than regenerated tails, indicating that the anti-predation responses of a lizard probably changes according to whether its tail is original or regenerated. With regard to the energetic cost of tail synthesis, we observed a significant in