Just as a note, this is the same lizard that had the ticks that I posted about a few weeks ago. All the ticks are now gone (Petroleum Jelly did the trick) and he is faster than ever. I've had lots of other Alligator lizards in the past, but this one is by far the most acrobatic. I think it has to do with his full-length tail. I've noticed that most Alligator lizards I find have lost a part of their tale some point in their life. This one has a tail that is about twice as long as his body. He climbs all over the place in ways I've never seen my other guys do. I saw him lower himself from a log in my cage to the water at the bottom of the cage using just the tip of his tail! He even drank while he hung there. I've also seen him climb upside down on the wires at the top of the cage.
He is also the best hunter out of all the Alligator lizards I've had. I saw him eat about 6-7 crickets in under a minute the other day. I was worried he would choke! I noticed that right before he grabs the crickets while hunting, he shakes his tail all over the place. This is something else I never saw my other Alligator Lizards do. While hunting, my lizard tends to stand on his back legs with his front legs in the air to try and spot crickets across the cage. When he finds them, he runs across the entire cage while hopping over obstacles to get the cricket.
I just find it interesting how much more acrobatic he is than my other lizards. I never thought about their tails as being so important until now. I used to think of their tails as fat storage and maybe a lifesaver incase they were attacked; but in fact, it is almost like an extra arm or leg that gives them great balance.
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Caught an Alligator Lizard with a full tail. He is a little Acrobat!
Replies (1)
hey there,
Thats pretty cool about the Alligator Lizard. I've only heard about these guys using their tail like a limb, but never seen it myself. I wonder if retaining the original tail really does make a difference. It seems that just a regrown tail would be ok, unless the animal loses muscle memory,or just the plain ability with a regrow. That would be interesting to find out. Very cool. Has anyone else noticed this kind of thing in their pets? neat observation though.
-Phil
