Why do leopard geckos tails fall off?

Question

Why do leopard geckos tails fall off?

Answer 1

its a defense thing the would be attack is detracted but the twitching tail and goes for that while the rest of the gecko makes a quick exit

also the tails are so chunky so preds dont know what end is what and may grab the detachable tail rather than the head

and leos do loose there tail and it does grow back

Answer 2

If these little guys get caught by a preditor, the gecko drops his tail and heads for cover...better to lose some tail than die...I like the way the little guy thinks.

Answer 3

when they feel threatened they lose their tail to distract the predator so the predator doesnt try to eat the gecko.

Answer 4

umm they arent supposed to i have several i pick them up by their tails when i clean the tank and im trying to catch them it doesnt bother them any. some lizards tails do fall off when you grab it because the dont want to get eaten so they leave the tail behind and grow a new one. but the only reason a leopard geckos tail would fall off is because if the tail went through some seriouse injury. i had one jump off me while i was walking the dog was right there waiting for it to hit the floor i meant to catch the whole body but only cought its tail. its tail is still perfectly fine.

Answer 5

( just 2 let u kno ) my leopard gecko's tail was eaten off by my other one. and it didn't take it's own tail off. u have to hear it scream. it's sad.

Answer 6

To begin, I can't believe the post about picking a Leo up by its tail!  That is NOT the correct way to handle a gecko (nor is having the poor thing near a dog just waiting to attack it).

Everyone has answered this correctly about shedding the tail as a defense mechanism, or when stressed/scared, but if your Leo has lost its tail, it's because you have mishandled it.

Geckos store fat reserves in the tail, and it's not a good thing for them to loose it.  The new tail they generate will not be as pretty as the original tail as it grows back.

If this has happened, be sure to keep the Leo on paper towels until the wound heals completely, and keep it clean.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 7

Because they get stressed

Answer 8

The tail is detachable so the animal may escape predators. The gecko will first begin to wave the tail in the air when feeling threatened, this is to purposely draw attention away from the body and towards the tail, It also acts as a form of intimidation.

They have the ability to drop their tails when they feel threatened to act as a form of diversion, this is known as caudal autonomy. As it is fat and a more noticeable colour than the main body of the animal in relation to the desert floor, it can often fool predators by resembling the animal’s head.

In addition, the tail breaks at a crack in the geckos’ vertebra, the surrounding muscles separate neatly and instantly, a muscle will then close around the artery in the tail at the point of the break to prevent hemorrhaging. The broken tail will continue to spasm, causing a distraction allowing the gecko time to escape.

The tail can also regenerate in case the gecko may once again, need to evade a predator, though a regenerated tail will never look as attractive as the original.

Answer 9

It falls off because when someone or something scares it, the leopard gecko losses it's tail so the enemy will think that it's tail is it and it'll run off and follow the tail.  But don't worry, it'll grow back.

Answer 10

when they are threatened, their tails fall off as a distraction... after they lose their first tail, the older ones wont be as beautiful as the original.....