99-Million-Year-Old Amber Reveals Earliest Direct Evidence of a Lizard Shedding Its Tail
Learn how a lizard tail preserved in amber may reveal that lizards have been shedding their tails to escape death longer than we previously knew.
A 99-million-year-old piece of amber has revealed the earliest direct evidence of a lizard shedding its tail. The tiny tail, measuring just 0.7 inches long, was found encased in cloudy amber and analyzed using micro-computed tomography scans. The fossil, which predates the Cretaceous Period, provides proof that lizards have been dropping their tails for at least 99 million years.
However, the significance of why this particular tail was shed remains a mystery, as well as whether the lizard survived the ordeal. The researchers hope that a complete fossil will soon be discovered to provide more insight into the history of this iconic reptilian survival tactic.
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