Tail autotomy, the ability of certain animals to shed their tails or appendages as a defense mechanism against predators, is a fascinating topic in the study of animal behavior and physiology.

If you’ve ever seen a gecko suddenly drop its tail, it can be a pretty startling sight. But what you might not know, is that this behavior, called “autotomy,” is actually a survival mechanism that ...

Previous research had found that maintaining stiffness in the tail was crucial in allowing flight, but scientists had been baffled by how this was achieved. They have now discovered that the ...