because this guy hit it, and the tail came off and it was moving around crazy! The lizard realizes that the predator will soon be all over it and it will just be another taste snack. The lizards tail does it to distract a predator or perceived threat while the rest of him makes a run for it. Biologically speaking - when the tail is snapped off the nerves keep firing and the muscles contract. Instead, it just drops off its tail and continues to sprint. Once the tail has been detached from the body, many blood vessels and nerves are damaged and there is no way to reattach it, said Wissman. so it has a brain or something? Nerves from the lizard’s body are still firing and communicating with each other. why does a lizards tails move when it gets cut off? 0 3 1. By providing a convincing scapegoat to distract the predator, the lizard may be able to escape the situation (relatively) unharmed. 10 Answers. So the preditor will think it's the actual lizard trying to escape. This goes on as long as there is enough fuel for the muscles to contract. Also, the regrown tail may be a more muted brown color than the original, brighter colored tail, What to do for Tail Loss . It doesn’t move because it’s cut off, so that it will move when cut off no matter the condition of the animal - it moves because it’s alive and has cellular energy still in it. If its cut off, it still moves because of all the nerves that are in the tail. Login to reply the answers Post; Kishore. Answer. Now, this dropped tail is a big … Caudal autotomy is the official medical name for what occurs when a lizard sheds or drops part of its tail. This distracts a predator and gives the lizard plenty of time to escape. This gives the lizard a few precious moments to vanish into thin air. Do Lizards Bleed When the Tail Comes Off? Of course not. People and other animals (dismembered or not) will still move for a short while after death. After the tail falls off, it will continue to wiggle. If it’s dead, it’s dead. Favorite Answer. In fact, sometimes the tail will keep moving for upwards of a half hour. Nerves from the lizard’s body are still firing and communicating with each other. Anonymous. Some lizards can lose their tail when a predator … 1 decade ago. Why does Lizard's tail move after falling off? why do lizards tail wiggle once cut off? Duncan Smith/Photodisc/Getty Images . When being chased and nipped at by a scary predator, lizards will often lose their tails in a process called autotomy.Like a chicken with its head cut off, the tail will then flop around by itself for about 30 minutes, distracting the disappointed predator. it is a defense mechanism..when a predator attacks, they drop their tail, it wiggles..so the predator goes after IT while the lizard makes it's escape. 1 decade ago. Relevance. If the lizard is lucky, the predator will not be able to differentiate between the lizard and its wiggling tail. lol I have to say I've never seen a lizard's tail without its owner, but here's my explanation anyway: The muscles in the tail, as with other skeletal muscles in the lizard's body are innervated by nerves. Severed Lizard Tail Has a Mind of Its Own. By Jen Davis. These (peripheral) nerves branch from the central nervous system which … why does a lizards tails move when it gets cut off? Wiki User April 11, 2009 7:58AM. When a lizard detaches its tail, the tail whips around and wiggles on the ground. The tail still moves because in order for the lizard to drop its tail it must dislocate that natural weak spot by kind of shaking it. Evolutionary speaking the tails grabs and keeps the attention of the predator because it moves much more erratically and noticeably than the lizard and the predator hopefully will consider the tail a tastier meal than the lizard or at least will get distracted by it. We need you to answer this question! Lizards drop their tails as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened by a predator. Answer Save. No, it’s not actually your door’s fault. Why do lizards tails move after they've been cut off? Wiki User December 11, 2010 1:10AM. The lizard is giving it all for making speed, but it is not enough to outrun the predator. lol This distracts a predator and gives the lizard plenty of time to escape. because this guy hit it, and the tail came off and it was moving around crazy! When a lizard detaches its tail, the tail whips around and wiggles on the ground. so it has a brain or something? However if a Lizard "drops" its tail because it was attacked by something, the tail still moves around to distract the predator that was attacking the lizard and the lizard can get away. I sure hope you didn't cut a lizards tail off, that is so cruel. ... could enhance the distraction of the predator so the lizard can get away. In fact, sometimes the tail will keep moving for upwards of a half hour. Why do lizards tail move when we cut it? Related Questions. First, we need to understand why lizard tails are very easy to detach.