What is the reason that those outdoor lizards that you see around your house, loose their tails ?

Question

Can they loose their tails when they are afraid or threatened ?

Answer 1

Yes.  Are you the cause of this?

A lizard stores vital fat reserves in its tail.  If the reptile looses the reserve, it's in trouble and susceptible to illness/disease, until it can heal, and regrow a new one.

If it has lost stored fat in its tail, and the area has a drop in insects, it can die, and not make it long enough until more insects hatch/are born.

Enjoy the reptile where nature put it.  Please don't try to catch them.

If you are seeing outside lizards with missing tails, it means something is trying to catch/eat them.

I turn a hose on unwanted neighbors's cats and dogs.

Life in the wild is tough.  We need to protect our helpless wildlife from out domestic pets.

Don't get me wrong - I rescue cats and dogs, too.  I love all animals.

The purpose of losing a tail is so the lizard can escape while the predator is eating the moving tail.  It will grow a new one, but it will not be as pretty as the original tail, and it depletes the lizard while this process occurs.  Regrowing a tail is a slow thing, and puts the lizard at health risks while it does.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 2

yes they can they do it if they think they are being attacked, the tail comes off kepping the attacker occupied while the lizard  runs away, and it will eventually grow back.

Answer 3

Not sure what area you live in so I'm not sure what kind of lizard you're referring to.   In general, yes, sometimes a lizard will drop their tail if they're afraid, threatened, or feel trapped - especially if trapped by the tail.