What visual indicator suggests a Northern Alligator Lizard has recently dropped its tail?
Answer
A noticeably brighter tail color
If an observer notices that a Northern Alligator Lizard possesses a tail that appears noticeably brighter, perhaps paler or shinier in comparison to the main body coloration, this serves as clear evidence that the original tail was previously lost through autotomy. When the tail is shed, a replacement begins to grow back, and this new growth often presents with a distinct, lighter hue initially. This difference in color acts as a visual cue signaling the lizard's recent successful evasion of a threat, indicating that while the lizard survived the encounter, it expended vital stored energy to regenerate that crucial appendage used for balance.
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