Why Did My Leopard Gecko Drop Its Tail? In the wild, predators like birds or even larger reptiles may try to eat leopard geckos. They may drop their tails when they sense a physical threat.

Amazingly, geckos drop their tails along a pre-scored or “dotted line,” so to speak. It's a design that allows a gecko to lose its tail quickly and with minimal damage to the rest of its body.

Share News in Science Gecko's tail an energy powerhouse Friday, 20 November 2009 Dani Cooper ABC Geckos who lose their tails have a slower getaway, say researchers (Source: Trish Flemming) ...

African fat-tailed geckos are one of the most popular pet lizard species. Their distinctive appearance makes them very appealing to reptile lovers. If you’re looking for an alternative to ...

A Crested Climber This is a crested gecko, named for the spiny ridge that runs along its back and head, all the way to its eyes. These lizards are expert climbers and can use their padded feet to grip ...

It's like a gecko's personal injury insurance policy." Higham and Russell explored how the tail continues to function, using motion to entice a predator while the gecko escapes.

The severed tail continues to wiggle, distracting the predator long enough for the reptile to escape. In the lab, Vickaryous simulates this by pinching the gecko's tail causing the tail to drop.

To discern whether this was a "one movement fits all" type of balancing act, the researchers created a device that was capable of measuring the force of a gecko's tail against the surface. Using a ...