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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Comprehensive Understanding of Inactivity-Induced Gait Alteration in Rodents

Comprehensive Understanding of Inactivity-Induced Gait Alteration in Rodents

Published on: July 6, 2022

Tail loss and narrow surfaces decrease locomotor stability in the arboreal green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis).

Shi-Tong Tonia Hsieh¹

¹Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA sthsieh@temple.edu.

The Journal of Experimental Biology

|November 25, 2015

Summary

Lizard tail loss minimally impacts steady running but affects stability. The tail is more crucial for dynamic maneuvers than everyday locomotion.

Keywords:

Kinematics Locomotion Perch diameter Stability Tail autotomy

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Area of Science:

Zoology
Biomechanics
Animal Locomotion

Background:

Lizard tails are vital for dynamic stabilization during activities like falling and jumping.
Tail autotomy, a predator evasion strategy, raises questions about its effect on lizard locomotion and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of tail loss on running kinematics and performance in the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis).

Main Methods:

Green anole lizards were subjected to running trials on surfaces of varying widths (9.5mm, 15.9mm, 19.0mm, and flat).
Locomotor performance was assessed before and after 75% tail autotomy.

Main Results:

Surface width had a more significant impact on locomotor performance than tail loss.
Tail loss induced a destabilizing effect during regular running, but its role in steady locomotion was minimal.

Conclusions:

The lizard tail's primary function is likely in dynamic maneuvers requiring significant changes in body orientation or center of mass, rather than steady locomotion.