99-Million-Year-Old Lizard Tail Shedding Evidence Found in Israeli Amber
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have found the oldest evidence of lizard tail shedding, a 99-million-year-old lizard tail preserved in amber from Myanmar. The discovery confirms the ancient use of autotomy, a survival mechanism where animals detach body parts to escape danger. The well-preserved tail allowed scientists to study muscle arrangement, providing insights into this evolutionary strategy.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A 99-million-year-old lizard tail, the oldest evidence of autotomy, was found preserved in amber in Israel.
- The amber specimen, originating from Myanmar, was discovered by Tel Aviv University researchers.
- Scientists confirmed the tail was deliberately shed as a survival mechanism using micro-CT scanning.
- The external tissues of the tail are exceptionally well-preserved, appearing as if recently detached.
- The study, published in Palaeontologia Electronica, sheds light on the ancient evolutionary history of tail shedding.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered the oldest known evidence of tail shedding in a lizard, preserved in a 99-million-year-old piece of amber. The amber, originating from northern Myanmar and dating back to the Cretaceous period, contains a 8-millimeter lizard tail. Scientists believe the lizard shed its tail as a survival mechanism, possibly to escape a predator or a dangerous situation.
The remarkable preservation of the tail's external tissues, including skin and muscles, has led researchers to describe it as appearing as if the lizard died only hours ago. While the tail bones have fossilized and are difficult to identify, the researchers estimate the lizard was a distant relative of modern legless lizards. The discovery was made when research student Dolev Fabrikant, examining amber specimens for zoologist Dr. Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou, noticed scales on what was initially thought to be a branch.
To confirm the tail shedding, the team utilized micro-CT scanning, led by Dr. Ahmed Nasser from the Volcani Institute. This advanced imaging technique allowed them to visualize the muscle arrangement within the amber without damaging the specimen, confirming it was a deliberate tail shedding, a phenomenon known as autotomy. This mechanism, while costly evolutionarily as it involves losing a vital, fat-rich limb, is highly effective for survival.
Dr. Davranoglou expressed his astonishment at the find, noting the incredible preservation of the muscle structure, which he likened to a flower. The study, published in Palaeontologia Electronica, marks a significant contribution to understanding the evolutionary history of this survival strategy, with approximately 7,000 lizard species currently employing autotomy. Davranoglou concluded with a hope that the lizard itself survived the ordeal.
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