Colas de Iagartijas de género Liolaemus: Autotomía e influencia en la predación

The distribution of tail‐breakage points is analyzed in thirteen species of central Chilean Liolaemus (Lacertilia‐Iguanidae). Contrary to the expectation of a single break point, we find that the tail in Liolaemus spp. can be broken at different points all along the appendage. There are three modal points, though. Judging from results obtained with L. lemniscatus, the predatory capacity of lizards is not affected by the tail loss. This contention is based on the comparison of linear regression between stomach volume and animal volume in separated samples of animals with intact and regenerated tail.