Why Does A Lizard’s Tail Keeps Moving After It Detaches From Its Body?

Lizard Tail Anatomy:  Lizards are one of the most mysterious reptiles. Most of these lizards are harmless. However, some big lizards can be life-threatening for humans. These already fascinating creatures are also known for their ability to detach their tail, and if you've ever witnessed a lizard losing its tail, you may have noticed something very fascinating yet creepy. The tail will still move and twitch even after being separated from the body. This amazing fact has long intrigued animal experts about nature's survival mechanisms.

When attacked, most lizards use a defence mechanism known as autotomy, in which they detach their tail intentionally to divert the attacker's attention. But the most amazing aspect is that the separated tail does not just stay lifeless; it continues to move, at times for 30 minutes, according to PetMD.

What Is The Science Behind The Movement Of A Lizard's Tail Even After It Detaches From Its Body?

There are numerous factors that are responsible for the wiggling of the detached tail of a lizard, like:

1. The first most important factor is nerve autonomy. A lizard's tail has its own system of nerves and muscle reflexes. Additionally, the nerve cells fire signals and cause spasms and movement.

Also Read: Which Is The Animal With The Longest Tail? 15+ Animals With The Longest Tails

2. The second factor responsible for the continuous movement of the lizard’s tail after being detached from its body could be stored energy. This mainly happens due to the muscles in the tail, which contain stored chemical energy known as ATP. These chemicals produce contractions in the tail even after being separated from the rest of the body.

3. Another factor responsible for the moving tail, even after being detached from the lizard’s body, is due to the survival benefit. The continous and weird motion of the tail helps the lizard distract predators. As they concentrate on the moving tail, the lizard has the chance to get away.

Also Read: How To Naturally Keep Lizards Away From Home Without Killing Them?

The moving tail is not just an inbuilt glitch; it is nature’s developed survival mechanism. Over time, species that were more capable of distracting predators had a greater likelihood of evading and successfully reproducing. The autotomised tail, with all its post-detachment motion, is basically a life-preserving decoy. Therefore, if the next time you see a lizard detaching its wiggling tail, consider it to be a strategic movement to cleverly get away from a problem.