Tail Regeneration after Autotomy in the Geckonid Lizard Bunopus Tuberculatus

Abstract

Tail regeneration in the geckonid lizard, Banopus tuberculatus was morphologically and histologically studied after induced atutomy. Seventy percent of the tail of each animal, by length, was removed by autotomy. Regeneration phases; wound-healting, dedifferation, blastema formation, redifferentiation and growth were investigated. The results have established the formation of an apical blastema within which cellular proliferation and differentialtion of the regenerate tissues have occurred. Rate of regeneration, or the elongation rate, was weekly studied for eight consectuive weeks after tail autotomy. The maximum rate observed was 0.36 mm per day, and the elongation rate in Bunopus was generally much slower than in other examined lacertilians.