What is the specialized defense mechanism where a lizard detaches its tail to distract a predator?
Answer
Autotomy
Autotomy is the ability of the leopard lizard to drop its wriggling tail appendage if grasped by a predator, allowing the lizard to escape.
Related Questions
To which genus do the most commonly discussed North American leopard lizards belong?What unique method of locomotion allows leopard lizards to cover significant distances rapidly?Which other reptile is frequently confused with the desert Leopard Lizard due to a similar common name?What function does the long, slender tail serve while the leopard lizard is sprinting bipedally?What is the specialized defense mechanism where a lizard detaches its tail to distract a predator?What term describes the leopard lizard's required daily activity pattern?What is the critical environmental feature that actively hinders the leopard lizard's escape capabilities?What is the primary destination or shelter used by the leopard lizard when fleeing a predator?What is the approximate maximum vertical distance a leopard lizard can leap to capture prey?When do adult leopard lizards typically retreat underground to begin their winter dormancy period?Why is the emergence timing of hatchlings slightly later than that of the adults?