Journal
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 135, Issue 2, Pages 215-219Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/S1095-6433(03)00087-4
Keywords
anti-predator defence; caudal autotomy; energetic index; Eulamprus tympanum; lipids; lizards
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Most species of lizards will shed their tails at the point of contact when grasped by a predator. We investigated the energetic consequences of tail loss by measuring lipids in a scincid lizard that stores energy in its tail for reproduction. Most of the lipids were concentrated in the proximal portion of the tail. Thus, partial tail loss may not severely affect energy stores if the distal portion of the tail is shed in predatory encounters. We also found that the width of the tail was a reliable non-invasive index of energy reserves in this species. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
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