A Lizard’s Tale

OK so before you read this I have to admit that I feel more than a little guilty about it, but its was a chance to witness nature in action…

I was moving some things around here at Stark's Road and I spotted a Northern Alligator Lizard enjoying the sunshine on the rocks.  I know that Emma loves to see this kind of nature, so I picked it up to show it to her.  Unfortunately I was wearing gloves and so fumbled the poor lizard. One minute I was holding the lizard, the next I was holding the lizard by the tail.  Then suddenly I was holding JUST THE TAIL.  It had detached from the poor lizard, and was still wriggling!  After freaking out a bit, I remembered that lizards can do this to escape predators.  Its called autotomy - apparently the tail has its own nervous system to keep wriggling - distracting any predator.  Certainly worked with me – I was so freaked out by the wriggling tail the lizard was long gone.  Whist its kinda cool to see this in person, I feel a little guilty for mishandling the lizard.  Apparently it will grow a shorter, fatter tail back, but without the bones.  So apologies to the alligator lizard with the newly grown short fat tail!