99-Million-Year-Old Lizard Tail Found in Amber Reveals Dinosaur Era Secret
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
A 99-million-year-old lizard tail, discovered in amber from Myanmar, provides the first fossil evidence of autotomy, the ability to detach a tail for defense. The find, made by Tel Aviv University researchers, shows a detachment site similar to modern lizards. The study, published in Palaeontologia Electronica, offers a rare look at dinosaur-era survival mechanisms, though details about the specific lizard and the event remain unknown.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A 99-million-year-old lizard tail preserved in amber offers direct fossil evidence of autotomy.
- The tail was discovered in a small piece of amber from northern Myanmar.
- Dolav Fabricant of Tel Aviv University identified the tail's significance.
- The preserved detachment site matches mechanisms found in modern lizards.
- The finding suggests this defense strategy existed during the age of dinosaurs.
A new study from Tel Aviv University has uncovered a lizard tail preserved in amber for approximately 99 million years, providing the first direct fossil evidence of autotomy, the self-detachment of a body part for defense. The discovery was made in a tiny, 18-millimeter piece of amber originating from northern Myanmar. Initially overlooked by researchers as a small twig or insect remnant, its significance was identified by Dolav Fabricant, a PhD student at the university's School of Environmental Sciences. "When you look closely, you understand that what looks like a branch covered in tiny scales is actually a lizard's tail," Fabricant stated. Researchers noted that while previous fossils hinted at the ability of ancient reptiles to shed their tails, this specimen preserves the actual detachment site. Microscopic examination and 3D X-ray scanning revealed a ring-like tissue structure and detachment marks consistent with mechanisms seen in modern lizards. The research, a collaboration with scientists from the University of Athens and the Volcani Institute, was published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica. However, the exact species of lizard, the cause of the tail detachment, and whether the lizard survived remain unknown. The tail may have been shed to escape a predator or during an attempt to break free from the resin. Regardless, the amber fragment offers a rare glimpse into a world predating humans by tens of millions of years, demonstrating that a defensive strategy familiar today was already in place during the age of dinosaurs.
