Why Do Only Lizards Regrow Their Tails? 0 12

For example, iguanas, chameleons, and monitor lizards do not possess this ability. A detached tail distracts the predator, allowing the lizard to escape and hide.

“It is likely that a genetic mutation became established in lizards during evolution by chance,” says Svyatoslav Zabelin. “Perhaps they were often caught by their natural enemies precisely by this part of the body.

With a crocodile, for instance, such maneuvers are too risky – one could end up headless. A snake can also bite, and a turtle's short tail is hard to catch – in case of danger, it simply retracts under the shell.”