Impacts of tail loss and surface breadth on running stability in a tree-dwelling lizard

Tails are important for dynamic stabilization during falling and jumping in lizards. Yet, tail autotomy (the voluntary loss of an appendage) is commonly used for predator evasion. How tail autotomy affects locomotor performance and stability remains poorly understood. Here, we challenge an arboreal lizard to run along surfaces of different breadths with and without an intact tail. Results indicate that the tail appears to play a more important role during dynamic maneuvers requiring dramatic changes in whole body orientation or center of mass trajectories, rather than for general maintenance of running stability.