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Effect of Caudal Autotomy on Locomotor Performance of Wall Lizards (Podarcis muralis)

1995; The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; Volume: 29; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1565091

1937-2418

Rafe M. Brown, Douglas H. Taylor, Daniel H. Gist,

Species Distribution and Climate Change

We examined the effects of caudal autotomy on terrestrial and arboreal locomotory perfor- mance using European wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) from an established population in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tail loss significantly increased running speed and distance travelled but markedly decreased arboreal locomotor performance (speed and distance). The effects of tail type (original, unbroken vs. regenerated, previously broken) seldomly were significant before autotomy but became more markedly apparent fol- lowing tail removal. Significant interactions between tail type and autotomy indicated that individuals possessing original or regenerated tails responded differently to tail loss. Whereas original tails were associated with superior locomotor performance before tail loss, individuals that had possessed regenerated tails before autotomy ran fastest and farthest and traversed an arboreal substrate fastest after their tails were removed. These results suggest that lizards that have been previously subjected to caudal autotomy are able to learn by experience how to compensate for the absence of a tail and, accordingly, traverse an arboreal substrate faster - even after their tail has regenerated and is subsequently autotomized again. The importance of these trends is discussed in light of foraging and escape mode postulates.