Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?

Autores
Cabezas-Cartes, F.; Torres, M. M.; Viladrich, L.J.; Lopez Juri, G.; Naretto, S.
Año de publicación
2024
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión aceptada
Descripción
Autotomy in animals, the voluntary loss of a body part at a specific location, is a widespread behaviour observed across various groups. This mechanism provides several advantages, such as predator evasion, escape from entrapments, and even reduced injury costs from agonistic interactions. Lizards display tail autotomy in response to predation and intraspecific aggression. Moreover, it is common for these reptiles to have sexually dimorphic traits, such as colouration and body size, which may influence predation risk and consequently their antipredatory strategies. This study focuses on the Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis) which inhabits an isolated highland ecosystem in central Argentina. This species is an ideal study model due to its territorial and aggressive behaviour, high intraspecific competition and sexual dichromatism. The aims of this study were to determine the influence of sex and body size on the occurrence of tail autotomy in P. achalensis. Additionally, we assessed the cost of autotomy by analysing the distance between the vent and the tail cut. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of repeated tail autotomy by a single individual. Our results showed that in P. achalensis, sex and body size interacted significantly resulting in different patterns of tail autotomy. In females, the frequency of autotomy increased gradually with body size, whereas in males it increased more abruptly and reached its maximum frequency at smaller body sizes than in females. Males presented higher autotomy frequencies than females, likely because they are more likely to be perceived by avian predators than cryptic females. The findings of this study contribute to broadening the knowledge of lizard behaviour, shedding light on the complex interplay between predation, intraspecific competition and reproductive dynamics in this unique species.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Departamento de Zoología. Laboratorio de Eco-fisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles; Argentina.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Torres, M. M. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Grupo de Investigaciones de Ecología en Ambientes Antropizados; Argentina.
Fil: Torres, M. M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Laboratorio de Investigación y Conservación de la Biodiversidad ; Argentina.
Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.
Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Macquarie University, Sydney,. School of Natural Sciences; Australia.
Fuente
Journal of Zoology 325 (2025)
Materia
Pristidactylus achalensis
Tail loss
Autotomy
Cost
Strategies
Intraspecific competition
Sexual differences
Predation
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
Artículos
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
Institución
Universidad Nacional del Comahue
OAI Identificador
oai:rdi.uncoma.edu.ar:uncomaid/19516
Acceder
id RDIUNCO_73558112080676b24cf23405b7cd3980
oai_identifier_str oai:rdi.uncoma.edu.ar:uncomaid/19516
network_acronym_str RDIUNCO
repository_id_str 7108
network_name_str Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
spelling Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?Cabezas-Cartes, F.Torres, M. M.Viladrich, L.J.Lopez Juri, G.Naretto, S.Pristidactylus achalensisTail lossAutotomyCostStrategiesIntraspecific competitionSexual differencesPredationCiencias de la Tierra y Medio AmbienteArtículosAutotomy in animals, the voluntary loss of a body part at a specific location, is a widespread behaviour observed across various groups. This mechanism provides several advantages, such as predator evasion, escape from entrapments, and even reduced injury costs from agonistic interactions. Lizards display tail autotomy in response to predation and intraspecific aggression. Moreover, it is common for these reptiles to have sexually dimorphic traits, such as colouration and body size, which may influence predation risk and consequently their antipredatory strategies. This study focuses on the Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis) which inhabits an isolated highland ecosystem in central Argentina. This species is an ideal study model due to its territorial and aggressive behaviour, high intraspecific competition and sexual dichromatism. The aims of this study were to determine the influence of sex and body size on the occurrence of tail autotomy in P. achalensis. Additionally, we assessed the cost of autotomy by analysing the distance between the vent and the tail cut. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of repeated tail autotomy by a single individual. Our results showed that in P. achalensis, sex and body size interacted significantly resulting in different patterns of tail autotomy. In females, the frequency of autotomy increased gradually with body size, whereas in males it increased more abruptly and reached its maximum frequency at smaller body sizes than in females. Males presented higher autotomy frequencies than females, likely because they are more likely to be perceived by avian predators than cryptic females. The findings of this study contribute to broadening the knowledge of lizard behaviour, shedding light on the complex interplay between predation, intraspecific competition and reproductive dynamics in this unique species.Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Departamento de Zoología. Laboratorio de Eco-fisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles; Argentina.Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina.Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Torres, M. M. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Grupo de Investigaciones de Ecología en Ambientes Antropizados; Argentina.Fil: Torres, M. M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Laboratorio de Investigación y Conservación de la Biodiversidad ; Argentina.Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.Fil: Naretto, S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.Fil: Naretto, S. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.Fil: Naretto, S. Macquarie University, Sydney,. School of Natural Sciences; Australia.WileyAnthony Herrel2024info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfpp. 166-173application/pdf0952-8369https://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/handle/uncomaid/19516Journal of Zoology 325 (2025)reponame:Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)instname:Universidad Nacional del Comahueenghttps://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13241info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/2026-08-26T10:58:03Zoai:rdi.uncoma.edu.ar:uncomaid/19516instacron:UNCoInstitucionalhttp://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/Universidad públicaNo correspondehttp://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/oaimirtha.mateo@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar; adriana.acuna@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:71082026-08-26 10:58:03.554Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo) - Universidad Nacional del Comahuefalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
title Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
spellingShingle Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
Cabezas-Cartes, F.
Pristidactylus achalensis
Tail loss
Autotomy
Cost
Strategies
Intraspecific competition
Sexual differences
Predation
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
Artículos
title_short Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
title_full Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
title_fullStr Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
title_full_unstemmed Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
title_sort Autotomy in Achala copper lizard: do sex and body size traits influence tail loss and regeneration?
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Cabezas-Cartes, F.
Torres, M. M.
Viladrich, L.J.
Lopez Juri, G.
Naretto, S.
author Cabezas-Cartes, F.
author_facet Cabezas-Cartes, F.
Torres, M. M.
Viladrich, L.J.
Lopez Juri, G.
Naretto, S.
author_role author
author2 Torres, M. M.
Viladrich, L.J.
Lopez Juri, G.
Naretto, S.
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Pristidactylus achalensis
Tail loss
Autotomy
Cost
Strategies
Intraspecific competition
Sexual differences
Predation
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
Artículos
topic Pristidactylus achalensis
Tail loss
Autotomy
Cost
Strategies
Intraspecific competition
Sexual differences
Predation
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
Artículos
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Autotomy in animals, the voluntary loss of a body part at a specific location, is a widespread behaviour observed across various groups. This mechanism provides several advantages, such as predator evasion, escape from entrapments, and even reduced injury costs from agonistic interactions. Lizards display tail autotomy in response to predation and intraspecific aggression. Moreover, it is common for these reptiles to have sexually dimorphic traits, such as colouration and body size, which may influence predation risk and consequently their antipredatory strategies. This study focuses on the Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis) which inhabits an isolated highland ecosystem in central Argentina. This species is an ideal study model due to its territorial and aggressive behaviour, high intraspecific competition and sexual dichromatism. The aims of this study were to determine the influence of sex and body size on the occurrence of tail autotomy in P. achalensis. Additionally, we assessed the cost of autotomy by analysing the distance between the vent and the tail cut. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of repeated tail autotomy by a single individual. Our results showed that in P. achalensis, sex and body size interacted significantly resulting in different patterns of tail autotomy. In females, the frequency of autotomy increased gradually with body size, whereas in males it increased more abruptly and reached its maximum frequency at smaller body sizes than in females. Males presented higher autotomy frequencies than females, likely because they are more likely to be perceived by avian predators than cryptic females. The findings of this study contribute to broadening the knowledge of lizard behaviour, shedding light on the complex interplay between predation, intraspecific competition and reproductive dynamics in this unique species.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Departamento de Zoología. Laboratorio de Eco-fisiología e Historia de vida de Reptiles; Argentina.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina.
Fil: Cabezas Cartes, F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Torres, M. M. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Grupo de Investigaciones de Ecología en Ambientes Antropizados; Argentina.
Fil: Torres, M. M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Laboratorio de Investigación y Conservación de la Biodiversidad ; Argentina.
Fil: Viladrich, L.J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.
Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.
Fil: Lopez Juri, G. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina.
Fil: Naretto, S. Macquarie University, Sydney,. School of Natural Sciences; Australia.
description Autotomy in animals, the voluntary loss of a body part at a specific location, is a widespread behaviour observed across various groups. This mechanism provides several advantages, such as predator evasion, escape from entrapments, and even reduced injury costs from agonistic interactions. Lizards display tail autotomy in response to predation and intraspecific aggression. Moreover, it is common for these reptiles to have sexually dimorphic traits, such as colouration and body size, which may influence predation risk and consequently their antipredatory strategies. This study focuses on the Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis) which inhabits an isolated highland ecosystem in central Argentina. This species is an ideal study model due to its territorial and aggressive behaviour, high intraspecific competition and sexual dichromatism. The aims of this study were to determine the influence of sex and body size on the occurrence of tail autotomy in P. achalensis. Additionally, we assessed the cost of autotomy by analysing the distance between the vent and the tail cut. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of repeated tail autotomy by a single individual. Our results showed that in P. achalensis, sex and body size interacted significantly resulting in different patterns of tail autotomy. In females, the frequency of autotomy increased gradually with body size, whereas in males it increased more abruptly and reached its maximum frequency at smaller body sizes than in females. Males presented higher autotomy frequencies than females, likely because they are more likely to be perceived by avian predators than cryptic females. The findings of this study contribute to broadening the knowledge of lizard behaviour, shedding light on the complex interplay between predation, intraspecific competition and reproductive dynamics in this unique species.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 0952-8369
https://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/handle/uncomaid/19516
identifier_str_mv 0952-8369
url https://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/handle/uncomaid/19516
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13241
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
pp. 166-173
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Wiley
Anthony Herrel
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Wiley
Anthony Herrel
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Journal of Zoology 325 (2025)
reponame:Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
instname:Universidad Nacional del Comahue
reponame_str Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
collection Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
instname_str Universidad Nacional del Comahue
repository.name.fl_str_mv Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo) - Universidad Nacional del Comahue
repository.mail.fl_str_mv mirtha.mateo@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar; adriana.acuna@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar
_version_ 1874595866765950976
score 13.24418

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