Reptile & Amphibian Forums

sorry im posting so much, but i just wanna see what other people have to say about stuff on here. anyway, i was cleaning out the twigs and moss with my babies, placed them on my bed for a moment, and while i was cleaning out their tiny cage, one baby started to wave his tail around. it wasnt quite as dramatic as ive seen in the adults, but he was doing it. best thing is i grabbed my digital camera and got as much video of it as i could. i wish there was a way i could post that for everyone to see!
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1.0.1 rhacodactyl ciliatus
2.1 cb uroplatus phantasticus
0.1.0 wc uroplatus phantasticus
1.1.0 anolis carolensis
1.0.0 python regis
1.0.0 trachemys scripta elegans

I have seen my geckos doing that same thing just before the leap on a prey..
That was the most interesting moment that I have seen my lizzards do. ;D

Shake it, sh shaket it..
shake it like a polaroid picture...

according to an article in the November issue of Reptile and Amphibian magazine. The Uroplatus waves the tail back and forth to distract predators from them.

thats interesting. do you know if the article was making the point that this is one possibility for the behavior, or their only use for the behavior. after watching my adults do it, i was convinced that it was more of a type of communication between geckos, such as territory, mating, etc. hopefully it will become more clear once i get some more.
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1.0.1 rhacodactyl ciliatus
2.1 cb uroplatus phantasticus
0.1.0 wc uroplatus phantasticus
1.1.0 anolis carolensis
1.0.0 python regis
1.0.0 trachemys scripta elegans

Hi

In regards to antipredatory behavior, I don't believe that waving their tail has much function beyond nervous displacement. I say this since these are cryptic lizards their last ditch defense would be to startle or shock a predator.

Henkeli and Fimbriatus will raise and shake their tail when initially startled and I have seen the tail wave open mouth display as an effective means to scare a predator (It's even spooked me before!).

Normal tail tapping does have a relationship with tactile/visual communication often involving courtship and mating. Included in this posting is a link with more details pertaining to such. I hope it can be of some use.

Keep on enjoying your geckos

Carl Franklin

Carl's Creepy Crawlies

Henkeli link