The common misconception is that all small lizards are able to voluntarily shed their tails to escape predators. Many pet owners want to know if their chameleons are also capable of this “special” tail-shedding trick.
Unlike many other lizards, chameleons do not possess the ability to voluntarily shed their tails when faced with a threat. A tail loss from a chameleon can be a very serious health crisis for the lizard.
Autotomy is a defense mechanism where a reptile or insect voluntarily breaks off a limp. This self-amputation occurs whenever the animal seeks to escape a dangerous situation. However, unlike other lizards, especially geckos, chameleons do not have the feature of dropping their tails.
Do Chameleons Shed Their Tail?
Contrary to popular myths, chameleons do not change color to match their surroundings. Each chameleon specie has a specific color pattern it can display.
In addition, they possess strong survival skills and live most of life in trees and bushes. Most have a prehensible tail that can curl around tree branches and food which is useful for a life on the climb.
Since most chameleons rely on their tails for balance, movement, and control, the tail has to be strong to withstand their full body weight.
Unlike some reptile groups, Chameleons have a bone in the tail section to make it strong and durable. Due to this tailbone, autotomy or self-amputation is not possible for chameleons.
Some insect species and animals have a vertical fracture plane containing no bone, which allows some lizards to detach their tails. However, as a chameleon grows older, the tailbone becomes stronger, making autotomy impossible. Therefore, a chameleon does not voluntarily drop its tail, no matter how dangerous the situation is.
Do Chameleons Regrow Their Tails?
Chameleons have many helpful features that can help them to adapt to wildlife and ensure survival. For a chameleon, the tail is just another limb in the body, just like the toes or legs.
It supports the chameleon during a climb or when hanging from tree branches. And the tail bone matures as a chameleon grows older to support the body weight.
When a chameleon loses its tail, the blood vessels and tissues are destroyed at the nerve ends, so you cannot reattach the tail to the body. Unlike other lizards, a chameleon doesn’t have a vertical fracture plane used for caudal autonomy. Therefore, the chameleon cannot shed its tail voluntarily or regrow it.
The creature has a prehensible tail which limits its ability to detach its tail. In addition, chameleons do not have any regenerative abilities, unlike other animals.
Hence, if your chameleon loses its tail, it will never grow back. All chameleon species cannot reproduce or regrow a new limb, regardless of the body part.
Do Other Lizards Regrow Their Tails?
Indeed, some lizard species have regenerative abilities where they can regrow their tail and other body parts. These reptile groups lose their tails to avoid danger or an instinct and leave the detached tail behind. However, not all reptiles that detach their tails can grow them back.
For instance, a crested gecko will drop its tail when stressed or in danger, but crested geckos don’t have any regenerative ability so the animal will be tailless for life.
This is similar to chameleons who can’t detach their tails, much less the ability to grow them back. However, several species of lizards, like the green anole, salamander, and iguana, can regenerate body parts.
According to scientists, most lizards are capable of dedifferentiating cells. In this instant, the existing cells at the base of the can revert to a more primitive cell.
Where this happens, the cells build the muscle or skin cells used to build a new tail. Therefore, any time a tail drops, the existing cell dedifferentiates to create a new tail.
In addition, most reptiles store their energy and food in their tails. Hence, they have to focus all their remaining on building a new cell which may take about 30 to 60 days in some lizard species. However, a new tail isn’t worth the stress for species like crested geckos, and they have evolved to live without their tails.
Ultimately, no two tails are alike, and although a lizard can grow a new tail at least once in its lifetime, it won’t be the same as the original tail.
The skin and scales may spot a different color and pattern than the first. In addition, since there are no bones in the new tail, the animal grows cartilage to form the tail structure.
There will also be some differences in how the muscle appears. Some lizards have longer, slow-twitch muscles instead of short, fast-twitch fibers in the original tail.
As a result, the new tail isn’t as useful as the first and mainly serves the purpose of distracting predators from saving the lizard’s life.
Are There Any Negative Effects of Not Having a Tail and The Act of Losing a Tail?
For some reptile species, the loss of a tail is part of the natural growing process and doesn’t cause any harm to the animal.
In the instance of a crested gecko, the animal has evolved to live the rest of its life without a tail. However, the same cannot be said for a chameleon that doesn’t have the ability shed its tail.
When a chameleon loses its tail due to medical amputation or a predator, it can still live a normal life. However, the animal will lose its ability to climb and hang on trees which helps survive in the wild.
The circumstance of a tail loss may also be traumatic for the animal, especially after a predator has bitten it off.
However, if a chameleon recovers from the event that causes a tail loss, it can still live a full life, especially in captivity. You and the Chameleon will have to adapt to the new change in appearance. But with the right nutrition and living environment, your chameleon will stay in good shape.
Does Shedding a Tail Hurt/Harm the Chameleon?
Shedding is part of the normal life cycle for many lizards, snakes, and other reptiles. However, some animals shed more than just their skin but also their tails.
When a lizard gets in the grip of a predator, it may voluntarily detach its tail as a defense mechanism. However, chameleons don’t have this ability.
Chameleon’s tails are useful for climbing and hanging and aid survival in the wild. The chameleon has a prehensible tail and cannot detach the tail from the body, unlike other geckos, who tend to drop their tails to avoid predators. Hence, detaching a chameleon’s tail can hurt the animal.
Since a chameleon has no regenerative abilities, the broken tail will not grow back, leaving the chameleon tailless. If you notice that your pet chameleon hurt its tail, you should rush to the vet for a quick check-up. Some researchers also believe that tail loss can reduce growth and sexual maturity.
In addition, a tail loss can also affect survival instincts leaving the animal vulnerable, especially in the wild. Preparing a comfortable environment for the chameleon to recover from the injury is also important. After the tail drops and the wound heals, the rear end of the chameleon will close into a short stump like a frog’s bottom.
Do Chameleons Eat their Tails?
A Chameleon has a prehensible tail which is useful for negotiating trees and branches in the wild. It is rare to find a chameleon without its tail, and there is always the danger of the handler hurting the tail when holding the tail in captivity. In addition, there are few reports of where a chameleon bites their tails.
Some chameleons bite their tails because they are trapped in a small enclosure. A small cage can force the chameleon to lie in unnatural positions, which can cause stress and anxiety leading to tail biting.
However, this happens rarely, and it’s highly uncommon to hear of a chameleon eating its tail after it has been removed.
Interestingly, there are also cases where tail biting is used as a bullying point for a group of chameleons in an enclosure. The bigger ones can pick on the smallest chameleon in the cage and start biting its tail. This is common in small enclosures with insufficient space for all the animals.
All Causes of Tail Loss in Chameleons
Because Chameleons don’t voluntarily detach their tails, a tail loss is rightfully worrisome. However, the following situations can cause your chameleon to lose its tail.
It Can be Bitten Off
A chameleon in the wild can fall into the hands of a predator or trap where its tail gets bitten. Chameleons are mostly at the bottom of the food chain and in danger of large predators. Unlike geckos, a chameleon can’t drop its tail to avoid predators, so there’s a chance that the tail will be ripped off, leaving the poor animal tailless.
In addition, a chameleon can also lose its tail from a cage fight. Generally, Chameleons are a territorial species, and they can easily become aggressive when they feel threatened or under attack.
A nasty bite can lead to an infection causing the tail to be amputated. Many vets advise putting two chameleons in the same cage to avoid a fight.
The Tail Can Get Broken or Damaged
Chameleons are sensitive animals, and mishandling can cause a trip to the vet. When you grab your chameleon by the tip of its tail, you risk snapping the tailbone or ripping it off.
In addition, most chameleons curl their tails, and the tail can curl around dangerous objects, causing a bad cut. It is, therefore, important to handle your pet chameleons with care.
Another way a chameleon can damage its tail is when the pet owner steps on it. This can break the tailbone and affect the tail movement or cause the pain to fall off.
Similarly, a common accident is where the handler traps the tail between the seal of the enclosure. It can damage the tail and tear it from the chameleon’s body.
Amputation
A chameleon must go to the vet for immediate attention when it hurts or damages its tail. The vet might then decide to amputate the injured tail depending on the severity of the damage.
Many vets believe a damaged tail does more harm than good with a chameleon and will typically perform an amputation.
Does a Lost Tail Impact the Health of Chameleons (or Reduce Lifespan)?
Chameleons can make good pets, and with care and proper nutrition, they can live for years. However, the tail loss is not normal for chameleons, and it can limit the animals, climbing and jumping instinct.
Aside from this cosmetic effect, there is no evidence that a tail loss will reduce the life span of a chameleon.
What is the Function of a Tail in a Chameleon?
Chameleons have a prehensible tail that can curl and grab objects like fingers and toes. This helps to make climbing high places easy, especially in the natural habitat. Some chameleons also curl their toes around tree branches to protect and maintain balance.
In addition, some male chameleons curl their tails during the confrontation, which is often a sign of aggression. It can be used to threaten rivals or deter predators.
The chameleon’s tail typically serves as a useful survival tool in the wild, and a tailless chameleon is usually left vulnerable. Therefore, most chameleons find strength in their tails.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that chameleons, like most lizards, are typically at the bottom of the food chain and at the mercy of predators. For a chameleon, a tail is an important survival tool alongside its ability to change color. Therefore, a forceful tail loss can leave the animal exposed and vulnerable even in captivity.
For a complete breakdown of tail shedding in blue-tongued skinks, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of tail shedding in green iguanas, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of tail shedding in crested geckos, check out this helpful guide.