Lizard Tail in Amber Shows a 99-Million-Year-Old Defense
A tiny piece of amber from Myanmar has revealed a 99-million-year-old lizard tail that sheds light on an ancient defense mechanism. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Tel Aviv University and others. They found the tail in a piece of amber just 18 millimeters long, the size of a fingertip.
The team used micro-CT scanning to examine the fossil and found a distinctive ring of tissue and a clean, symmetrical separation where the tail detached from the body. This suggests that the lizard voluntarily shed its tail, a defense mechanism called autotomy.
The researchers were able to study the fossil in detail because the amber is cloudy and microscopic, making it difficult to examine with a regular microscope. The micro-CT scans allowed them to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the fossil without damaging it.
The discovery provides direct evidence of autotomy in ancient lizards, a defense mechanism still used by many species today. However, the researchers were unable to determine which group of lizards the ancient lizard belonged to or what prompted it to shed its tail.
The fossil is a significant find for scientists studying the evolution of lizards and their defense mechanisms. It provides a unique window into the past and helps to answer questions about the origins of autotomy.
The researchers' findings are published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica and provide new insights into the history of lizards and their survival strategies.
