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Casting (tails)
Autotomy (from the Greek ''auto-'', "self-" and ''tome'', "severing", αὐτοτομία) or 'self-amputation', is the behaviour whereby an animal sheds or discards an appendage, usually as a self-defense mechanism to elude a predator's grasp or to distract the predator and thereby allow escape. Some animals are able to regenerate the lost body part later. Autotomy is thought to have evolved independently at least nine times. The term was coined in 1883 by Leon Fredericq. Vertebrates Reptiles and amphibians Some lizards, salamanders and tuatara when caught by the tail will shed part of it in attempting to escape. In many species the detached tail will continue to wriggle, creating a deceptive sense of continued struggle, and distracting the predator's attention from the fleeing prey animal. In addition, many species of lizards, such as '' Plestiodon fasciatus'', '' Cordylosaurus subtessellatus'', '' Holaspis guentheri'', ''Phelsuma barbouri'', and '' Ameiva wetmorei'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-headed Dwarf Gecko
The white-headed dwarf gecko or painted dwarf gecko (''Lygodactylus picturatus'') is a species of ''Lygodactylus'' gecko widely distributed in Africa. One subspecies is recognized, in addition to the nominate one: ''Lygodactylus picturatus sudanensis'' Loveridge, 1935, the Sudani dwarf gecko. The species ''Lygodactylus luteopicturatus The yellow-headed dwarf gecko or dwarf yellow-headed gecko (''Lygodactylus luteopicturatus'') is a small species of dwarf gecko found in the rocky areas of southern Kenya, Somalia (maybe as an introduced species), eastern Tanzania, and Zanzibar ...'' was synonymized with ''L. picturatus'' in 2004. References Lygodactylus Reptiles of West Africa Reptiles of Cameroon Reptiles of the Central African Republic Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Reptiles of Ethiopia Reptiles of Kenya Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles of Somalia Reptiles of South Sudan Vertebrates of Sudan Reptiles of Uganda Reptiles of Tanzania Rept ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phelsuma Barbouri
Barbour's day gecko (''Phelsuma barbouri)'' is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to central Madagascar. It is diurnal and typically dwells on rocks. Barbour's day gecko feeds on insects and nectar. Etymology The specific name, ''barbouri'', as well as the common name, Barbour's day gecko, are in honor of American herpetologist Thomas Barbour. Description ''P. barbouri'' is a middle-sized day gecko. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about . The body colour is brownish green or dark green. Both a dark brown dorso-lateral stripe and a dark brown lateral stripe extend from head to tail. The extremities are normally brown. The tail is unicoloured green and slightly flattened. Geographic range ''P. barbouri'' inhabits the highlands of central Madagascar in the Ankaratra Mountains, at altitudes of . www.reptile-database.org. Habitat In contrast to other lizards of the genus ''Phelsuma'', ''P. barbouri'' is terrestrial and typically ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coleonyx Brevis
The Texas banded gecko (''Coleonyx brevis'') is a species of small gecko native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Description Texas banded geckos are small, terrestrial lizards, rarely exceeding in length. They have alternating bands of yellow and brown or pink colored banding down their body, generally with black accenting on the bands, and sometimes with varying degrees of black speckling. Hatchlings and juveniles display a banded pattern; the banded pattern gets a more mottled appearance as the gecko becomes an adult. Distribution It is found in western Texas and in southeastern New Mexico in the United States, and in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango in Mexico. They prefer semi-arid habitats, and are often found around rock piles or canyon crevices. Behavior Primarily nocturnal and carnivorous, they will consume almost any kind of small arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iberolacerta Monticola
The Iberian rock lizard (''Iberolacerta monticola'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Portugal and Spain. Its natural habitats are mountain forests, shrubland, rivers and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. Description The Iberian rock lizard measures about from snout to vent with a long, slender tail twice as long again. It is somewhat flattened with finely boned, short limbs. The colour varies in different parts of its range. The general colour is a light brown/green color variously patterned with longitudinal bands of colour or longitudinal rows of dots and small patches. Unlike some other wall lizards, the stripe along the spine is less dark than other bands. Most, but not all, individuals have a distinctive green belly and the juveniles may have blue tails. A 2008 field study reported the underparts of Iberian rock lizards turn green with maturity, and the upperparts gradually turn green as the lizard ages further. Distri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uta Stansburiana
The common side-blotched lizard (''Uta stansburiana'') is a species of side-blotched lizard in the Family (biology), family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico. It is notable for having a unique form of polymorphism (biology), polymorphism wherein each of the three different male morphs utilizes a different strategy in acquiring mates. The three morphs compete against each other following a pattern of Rock paper scissors#Analogues in real life, rock paper scissors, where one morph has advantages over another but is outcompeted by the third. Etymology The Specific name (zoology), specific epithet, ''stansburiana'', is in honor of Captain Howard Stansbury of the US Corps of Topographical Engineers, who collected the first specimens while leading the 1849-1851 expedition to explore and survey the Great Salt Lake of Utah. Taxonomy The systematics and Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of the widespread and variable lizar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Agama Agama
The common agama, red-headed rock agama or rainbow agama (''Agama agama'') is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae found in most of sub-Saharan Africa. To clear up centuries of historical confusion based on Linnaeus and other authors, Wagner et al. designated a neotype (numbered ZFMK 15222) for the species, using a previously described specimen from Cameroon in the collection of the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn. The species name was formerly applied to a paraphyletic collection of taxa (a so-called wastebasket); subsequent mitochondrial DNA analysis of various populations indicates they represent separate species.Leaché, A.D. et al. (2009)Phylogeny of the genus ''Agama'' based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data.''Bonner zoologische Beiträge'' 56(4) 273-78. Consequently, three former subspecies '' A. a. africana'', '' A. a. boensis'', and '' A. a. mucosoensis'' are now considered separate species, and ''A. a. savattieri'' is considered synonymou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caudal Artery
The caudal artery is the portion of the dorsal aorta of a vertebrate that passes into the tail The tail is the elongated section at the rear end of a bilaterian animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage extending backwards from the midline of the torso. In vertebrate animals that evolution, evolved to los .... It is analogous to the median sacral artery in humans. References External links External image Arteries {{Vertebrate anatomy-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphincter
A sphincter is a circular muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. Sphincters are found in many animals. There are over 60 types in the human body, some microscopically small, in particular the millions of precapillary sphincters. Sphincters relax at death, often releasing Body fluid, fluids and faeces. Functioning Each sphincter is associated with the lumen (opening) it surrounds. As long as the sphincter muscle is contracted, its length is shortened and the lumen is constricted (closed). Relaxation of the muscle causes it to lengthen, opening the lumen and allowing the passage of liquids, solids, or gases. This is evident, for example, in the Blowhole (biology), blowholes of numerous marine mammals. Many sphincters are used every day in the normal course of digestion. For example, the lower oesophageal sphincter (or cardiac sphincter), which resides at the top of the stomach, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vertebra
Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal segment and the particular species. The basic configuration of a vertebra varies; the vertebral body (also ''centrum'') is of bone and bears the load of the vertebral column. The upper and lower surfaces of the vertebra body give attachment to the intervertebral discs. The posterior part of a vertebra forms a vertebral arch, in eleven parts, consisting of two pedicles (pedicle of vertebral arch), two laminae, and seven processes. The laminae give attachment to the ligamenta flava (ligaments of the spine). There are vertebral notches formed from the shape of the pedicles, which form the intervertebral foramina when the vertebrae articulate. These foramina are the entry and exit conduits for the spinal nerves. The body of the vertebr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Fence Lizard
The western fence lizard (''Sceloporus occidentalis'') is a species of lizard native to Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Northern Mexico. The species is widely found in its native range and is considered common, often being seen in yards, or as the name implies, on fences. As the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly. Two western fence lizards have been reported with duplicated or forked tails, presumably following an autotomy. Taxonomy Taxonomy for the western fence lizard has been under much debate. ''S. occidentalis'' belongs in the order Squamata (snakes and lizards) and the suborder Iguania. The family in which it belongs is still under scrutiny. The family Phrynosomatidae, along with seven other families, used to be included in the single family Iguanidae, until Frost and Etheridge's (1989) analysis of iguanian systematics suggested the family be divided. Most li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different developmental origin, structure and chemical composition. The adjective cutaneous means "of the skin" (from Latin ''cutis'' 'skin'). In mammals, the skin is an organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs. Skin of a different nature exists in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Skin (including cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues) plays crucial roles in formation, structure, and function of extraskeletal apparatus such as horns of bovids (e.g., cattle) and rhinos, cervids' antlers, giraffids' ossicones, armadillos' osteoderm, and os penis/ os clitoris. All mammals have some hair on their skin, even marine mammals like whales, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bone
A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, and enable mobility. Bones come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have complex internal and external structures. They are lightweight yet strong and hard and serve multiple functions. Bone tissue (osseous tissue), which is also called bone in the uncountable sense of that word, is hard tissue, a type of specialised connective tissue. It has a honeycomb-like matrix internally, which helps to give the bone rigidity. Bone tissue is made up of different types of bone cells. Osteoblasts and osteocytes are involved in the formation and mineralisation of bone; osteoclasts are involved in the resorption of bone tissue. Modified (flattened) osteoblasts become the lining cells that form a protective layer on the bone surface. The mine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
