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A white-headed dwarf gecko with tail lost due to autotomy. Autotomy (from the Greek auto-, "self-" and tome, "severing", αὐτοτομία) or 'self-amputation', is the behaviour whereby an animal sheds or discards an appendage, [1] usually as a self-defense mechanism to elude a predator's grasp or to distract the predator and thereby allow escape.
The tails are quite long compared to their size, 1–2 inches (3–5 cm). If a tail is dropped, it will grow back, only shorter and stubbier. Unlike other geckos, dune geckos cannot climb up smooth surfaces. Instead, they prefer to dig. During the day, they usually hide in burrows or in caves, though often these are out and about in the day.
Active at night and in cool conditions when most reptiles rest. When threatened, the gecko arches its back, raises and wags its tail from side to side to draw attention away from the head- if attacked it will readily shed its tail and grow another; however the new tail will be broader and flatter with different coloration and a short tip.
After an individual loses its tail, they will exhibit more escape behavior. They will not allow predators to get as close to them, because they do not have that extra layer of protection. As the tail grows back, the escape behavior tends to decrease, because the lizard is not as susceptible to predation, because they have more protection. [ 28 ]
A new tail will then grow in its place, usually lacking the original color and texture. The muscles in the old tail will continue to flex for up to 30 minutes after the drop to distract predators. [5] Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) and African fat-tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) are popular pet lizards.
In the U.S., geckos are common in Texas, Florida, California, and other southern states. Why Does the Gecko’s Skin Repel Water? The benefit of hydrophobic skin is that it is self-cleaning.
The tail length can be equal to the length of the body from snout to the anus (SVL or Snout-Vent Length). [3] In 2004, the species was synonymized with Lygodactylus picturatus. [4] The yellow-headed dwarf gecko has a defense mechanism called tail autotomy, where they drop their tails to flee to safety when they are attacked by a predator.
These geckos are nocturnal; hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, and are immediately recognisable by their characteristic chirping. They grow to a length of between 7.5–15 cm (3–6 in), and live for about 7 years.