A case of limb regeneration in a wild adult Podarcis lilfordi lizard

Authors

ALEX CORTADA
ANTIGONI KALIONTZOPOULOU
JOANA MENDES
MIGUEL A. CARRETERO

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1607-53

Abstract

We report here a case of spontaneous limb regeneration in a wild Podarcis lilfordi lizard from the Balearic Islands. The animal had lost a hind limb, which regenerated posteriorly into a tail-like appendage. Despite not representing a functional regeneration, the growth of this structure after limb amputation suggests that survival of the individual may have been favored by the less restrictive conditions prevailing in insular environments. Nevertheless, such cases are extremely rare in lizards, with no reported cases over the last 60 years.

Keywords

Limb regeneration, Podarcis lilfordi, Lacertidae, islands, Balearics

First Page

1069

Last Page

1071

Recommended Citation

CORTADA, ALEX; KALIONTZOPOULOU, ANTIGONI; MENDES, JOANA; and CARRETERO, MIGUEL A. (2017) "A case of limb regeneration in a wild adult Podarcis lilfordi lizard," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 41: No. 6, Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1607-53
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol41/iss6/12