Israeli Researchers Discover 99-Million-Year-Old Evidence of Lizard Tail Shedding
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
An Israeli-led study has found 99-million-year-old fossil evidence of a lizard shedding its tail, discovered in amber from Myanmar. Researchers from Tel Aviv University used micro-CT scans to identify a muscle structure indicating voluntary tail detachment, confirming the ancient origin of this survival mechanism. The finding provides the oldest direct fossil proof of tail autotomy in vertebrates, dating back to the age of dinosaurs.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli researchers found 99-million-year-old fossil evidence of lizard tail shedding in Myanmar amber.
- The discovery confirms the ancient origin of the tail-shedding survival mechanism in lizards.
- Micro-CT scans revealed a muscle structure indicating voluntary detachment, not accidental breakage.
- This finding represents the oldest direct fossil proof of tail autotomy in vertebrates.
- The lizard tail dates back to the era when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
A new study led by Tel Aviv University has uncovered the oldest direct fossil evidence of tail shedding in lizards, dating back approximately 99 million years to the age of dinosaurs. The discovery was made possible by a tiny lizard tail preserved in ancient amber found in Myanmar. This mechanism, known as autotomy, allows lizards to detach their tails to escape predators and has long intrigued scientists due to the difficulty in pinpointing its evolutionary origins.
Previous fossil finds of detached lizard tails were inconclusive, as it was unclear whether the tails were shed voluntarily or severed by predators. However, a small piece of amber, about 99 million years old, unearthed in northern Myanmar, provided the breakthrough. Dolav Fabricant, a doctoral student at Tel Aviv University's new School of Environmental Science, noticed a delicate object within the amber that initially appeared to be a fragment of a branch.
Upon closer inspection, Fabricant realized it was a lizard's tail covered in tiny scales. His supervisor, Dr. Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou, expressed excitement, recognizing the fossil's potential to reveal insights into the evolution of this survival strategy. The research, involving collaborators from the University of Athens and the Volcani Institute, utilized micro-CT scanning technology at the Volcani Institute to examine the tail without damaging the precious amber.
The scan revealed a ring-like structure of muscle tissue at the point of detachment, similar to that observed in modern lizards when they shed their tails. The symmetrical nature of the detachment point, lacking signs of accidental tearing, further supported the conclusion that this was a controlled, self-amputation. This finding represents the earliest known fossil evidence of tail autotomy in vertebrates.
While the study confirms the tail belonged to a lizard from the dinosaur era, its exact species remains unidentified due to the lack of skeletal features like a skull. Researchers suggest it might be related to modern wall lizards or possibly slow worms and monitor lizards. The fate of the lizard itself is unknown, but the preserved tail provides definitive proof that this ancient defense mechanism was active during the Mesozoic Era.
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