Like
a pair of Velcro stripper pants, gecko tails come off easy. The lizards have
pre-formed score lines in their tail that allow them to quickly rip off their
tails when a predator has grabbed it, according to a new study.
The
gecko tails, which were described Wednesday (Dec. 19) in the journal PLoS One,
essentially stick to the body of the animals with adhesive forces.
"The
tail contains 'score lines' at distinct horizontal fracture planes where the
tail may be released as a response to predation," the authors wrote in the
article. "These scores penetrate all the way through the tissue where the
structural integrity is maintained by adhesion forces."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!