TAIL BIFURCATION IN A PREGANT FEMALE OF THE VIVIPAROUS SKINK Plestiodon indubitus (SCINCIDAE)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.4.1096Keywords:
antipredator mechanism, autotomy, lizard, tail regenerationAbstract
The self-induced shedding of all or part of the tail (caudal autotomy) is a widespread antipredator mechanism in lizards. It is commonly followed by the relatively rapid regeneration of a new tail, often of similar size to the original. In some cases, the tail partially fractures, without completely detaching from the organism, and stimulates a regenerative process that produces a forked tail. In recent decades, the number of reports of abnormal tail regeneration has increased considerably and it has been noted to occur in many families of lizards. In this note we report a case of abnormal tail regeneration in a female of the viviparous skink Plestiodon indubitus.
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