A lizard with a tail several times larger than its body (6 photos)

Meet the six-banded longtail. The tail of this small lizard is three times longer than the rest of its body!





Winter is getting closer, students are already looking forward to marathons with debts before the session. While they are running around with a bunch of tails after professors, on the other side of the world a six-striped longtail is dragging around with its own. You can envy her tail, because it is three times the length of the animal!

For a decent 20-30 centimeters of carcass there are as many as 60-90 cm of thin and flexible whip. With such an upgrade, the animal is just right to hang out with snakes. Since ancient times, the Thais believed this way - they avoided the lizard, worrying that the reptile would inject a decent dose of poison into them. But the longtails somehow did not establish contacts with the snakes. Either the lizard did not come out with its pointed muzzle, or the creeping reptiles did not appreciate the welcoming gestures of one of the short legs.



Or maybe the snakes are just jealous of her lightning speed? Despite the long “ballast”, the longtail has not lost its nimbleness. Small flies, spiders, crickets and other multi-legged creatures disappear into the lizard’s mouth, without even having time to realize that they are already being chewed. Increased speed is also needed to save your bottom. As soon as there is danger of appearing close to the animal, the lizard makes a rustling noise. Only its long tail flickers in the litter while the animal gracefully maneuvers among the blades of grass and stems.





A quick enemy may have time to grab the last chance to have a snack. But the longtail also has a proportionate response to this. She puts aside her pride without regret. A wriggling appendage remains in the paws, and the greatly shortened lizard is safe.



And it's all?! Yes, the technique is pop and very popular among the scaly brethren. Scientists also did not believe that such a whip was needed only to be eaten. They conducted research to find out the secrets of the longtail, but all in vain. Perhaps the ultra-long tail is a tree-climbing safety rope? But the lizard hangs out mainly in overgrown clearings, so we discard the theory. And even showing off to attract the opposite sex turned out to be not enough - you can’t tell the difference between a long-tailed and a long-tailed one.



The only obvious benefit for the animal is revealed during water procedures - the extended appendage becomes an excellent rowing tool. However, the animal usually does not engage in health bathing and does not live near bodies of water.



While some people were puzzled by the animal, others, on the contrary, were touched. Scientists are still chasing lizards across the clearings of Southeast Asia in search of an answer to the tailed question. And ordinary people began to keep animals as pets. But reptiles are tough nuts to crack. They cannot be bribed with food, warmth and care. They continue to be silent, glare at people with their black eyes, crunch crickets and hide the secret of their long tail!