Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii
Abstract Many lizard species use caudal autotomy, the ability to self-amputate a portion of the tail, as an effective but costly survival strategy. However, as a lizard grows, its increased size may reduce predation risk allowing for less costly strategies (e.g., biting and clawing) to be used as th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10962-x |
| _version_ | 1817976237190021120 |
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| author | James I. Barr Catherine A. Boisvert Kate Trinajstic Philip W. Bateman |
| author_facet | James I. Barr Catherine A. Boisvert Kate Trinajstic Philip W. Bateman |
| author_sort | James I. Barr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many lizard species use caudal autotomy, the ability to self-amputate a portion of the tail, as an effective but costly survival strategy. However, as a lizard grows, its increased size may reduce predation risk allowing for less costly strategies (e.g., biting and clawing) to be used as the primary defence. The King’s skink (Egernia kingii) is a large scincid up to approximately 244 mm snout to vent length (SVL) in size when adult. Adults rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles due to their size and strength increase during maturation. It has been hypothesised that lower behavioural reliance on autotomy in adults is reflected in loss or restriction of caudal vertebrae fracture planes through ossification as caudal intra-vertebral fracture planes in some species ossify during ontogenetic growth. To test this, we used micro-CT to image the tails of a growth series of seven individuals of E. kingii. We show that fracture planes are not lost or restricted ontogenetically within E. kingii, with adults retaining between 39–44 autotomisable vertebrae following 5–6 non-autotomisable vertebrae. Even though mature E. kingii rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles, this research shows that they retain the maximum ability to autotomise their tails, providing a last resort option to avoid threats. The potential costs associated with retaining caudal autotomy are most likely mitigated through neurological control of autotomy and E. kingii’s longevity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17eefe972f604706be9941eda3424029 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-17eefe972f604706be9941eda34240292022-12-22T02:28:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-04-011211610.1038/s41598-022-10962-xOntogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingiiJames I. Barr0Catherine A. Boisvert1Kate Trinajstic2Philip W. Bateman3School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversitySchool of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversitySchool of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversitySchool of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin UniversityAbstract Many lizard species use caudal autotomy, the ability to self-amputate a portion of the tail, as an effective but costly survival strategy. However, as a lizard grows, its increased size may reduce predation risk allowing for less costly strategies (e.g., biting and clawing) to be used as the primary defence. The King’s skink (Egernia kingii) is a large scincid up to approximately 244 mm snout to vent length (SVL) in size when adult. Adults rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles due to their size and strength increase during maturation. It has been hypothesised that lower behavioural reliance on autotomy in adults is reflected in loss or restriction of caudal vertebrae fracture planes through ossification as caudal intra-vertebral fracture planes in some species ossify during ontogenetic growth. To test this, we used micro-CT to image the tails of a growth series of seven individuals of E. kingii. We show that fracture planes are not lost or restricted ontogenetically within E. kingii, with adults retaining between 39–44 autotomisable vertebrae following 5–6 non-autotomisable vertebrae. Even though mature E. kingii rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles, this research shows that they retain the maximum ability to autotomise their tails, providing a last resort option to avoid threats. The potential costs associated with retaining caudal autotomy are most likely mitigated through neurological control of autotomy and E. kingii’s longevity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10962-x |
| spellingShingle | James I. Barr Catherine A. Boisvert Kate Trinajstic Philip W. Bateman Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii Scientific Reports |
| title | Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii |
| title_full | Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii |
| title_fullStr | Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii |
| title_short | Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii |
| title_sort | ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard egernia kingii |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10962-x |
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