THE ANIMAL FILES

Cape dwarf gecko

Lygodactylus capensis

The tail has a gripping surface too.

The Cape dwarf gecko occurs in African woodland and forest as well as towns. Its small body can climb vertical surfaces using adhesive structures, including an unusual gripping area beneath the tail.[1]

Follow the evidence ↓
Cape dwarf gecko
Image: Androstachys · Commons · Public domain
Tail underside
Adhesive lamellae[1]
Habitat
Woodlands, forests and urban walls[1]
Moulting
Detached skin may be eaten[1]

A fifth contact point

Adhesive lamellae beneath the tail let it contribute to gripping. The tail can provide additional contact while the feet move, making it more than a counterweight trailing behind the body.[1]

Losing a tail has a cost

Tail detachment can help escape a predator, but studies report poorer rapid climbing after loss. Losing the tail removes both balance and an adhesive contact surface until regrowth restores structure.[1]

A wall becomes a climbing surface

The gecko is commonly seen on town and garden walls as well as in wooded settings. During shedding it can pull away loose skin and eat it, actively assisting the replacement of its covering.[1]

A COMMON MIX-UP

Is tail loss a completely cost-free escape?

No. The tail’s roles in balance and adhesion mean its loss can reduce climbing performance.[1]

TRY A LITTLE REASONING

Why compare climbing before and after tail loss?

Reveal the explanation

That comparison can reveal how much the tail contributes to grip and movement, rather than inferring function from appearance alone.[1]

Sources & editorial notes

Adapted and translated from the cited Wikipedia revisions, with source-linked reasoning. Image credit and licence are listed separately above.

Adapted and translated from Wikipedia contributors; exact revisions are linked below. CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Wikipedia contributors — Cape dwarf gecko (fixed revision; adapted and translated)
  2. NCBI Taxonomy — Lygodactylus capensis (identity and classification)

Last fact check:

One discovery leads to another

Green iguanaLiving in trees does not rule out a swim.Iguana iguana ↗Viviparous lizardA live-bearing name still leaves room for egg-laying populations.Zootoca vivipara ↗Gila monsterBeaded skin, a searching tongue and a fat-storing tail.Heloderma suspectum ↗