Lizards possess a unique survival trick. They can detach their tails to escape predators. This process is called autotomy.

The present day spiny-tailed iguana is similar to captorhinids, small reptiles that lived 289 million years ago and could detach their tails to escape the grasp of predators.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, shows that this ancient group of reptiles could lose their tails and flee predators some 289 million years ago, ...

Tail autotomy, the self-induced shedding of a tail, represents a remarkable evolutionary adaptation that enables both reptiles and arthropods to evade predation and other life‐threatening ...

The ancient reptile captorhinus, which lived in Pangea about 289 million years ago, was capable of detaching its tail to evade predators. Was it capable of regenerating its tail just like modern ...

For over 200 years, scholars thought mosasaurs sported paddle-shaped tails much like sea snakes, said Lindgren. Since mosasaurs are true lizards, scholars formerly thought that the ancient reptile ...

In the world of reptiles, the size of the tail matters. Some species use their long tails for balance, such as the Asian grass lizard and the green basilisk, while marine reptiles use their tails ...

Ancient reptile Captorhinus could detach its tail to escape predator's grasp Date: March 6, 2018 Source: University of Toronto Summary: A new study shows how a group of small reptiles who lived ...