When a predator attacks a lizard, the lizard has a remarkable defense mechanism: it can drop its tail. The tail is made up of a series of vertebrae that can easily break apart. When the tail is dropped, it continues to twitch and move, which can distract the predator and allow the lizard to escape.

Slow-motion film has revealed the exact sequence of events that happens when a lizard drops its tail. When the predator attacks, the lizard contracts the muscles at the base of its tail. This causes the vertebrae to break apart and the tail to detach. The tail then goes into a series of spasms, which can last for several minutes. These spasms help to distract the predator and give the lizard time to escape.

The ability to drop its tail is a crucial defense mechanism for lizards. It allows them to escape from predators and survive in the wild.