What is the process called when the lizard sheds its tail for escape?
Answer
Autotomy
The mechanism by which the Northern Alligator Lizard can shed its tail when grasped or threatened by a predator is termed autotomy. This act serves as a highly effective distraction, as the detached tail often continues to twitch momentarily, diverting the predator's attention while the lizard escapes. Although this escape is vital for survival, it comes at a considerable cost to the lizard, as the tail represents a significant portion of its stored energy reserves and is a large organ critical for maintaining balance. This inherent trade-off emphasizes that, ecologically, avoiding detection is a much more favorable strategy than having to employ this costly defense mechanism.
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