Science

This lizard’s ‘great escape’ was frozen in amber for 99 million years

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 19/10/2026, 23:12:24 UTC.

Briefings

A tiny fossilized tail fragment provides the first irrefutable evidence of a lizard dropping its tail, challenging the long-held belief that such an event is impossible. This discovery, dated to approximately 99 million years ago, represents a significant shift in understanding reptile behavior and evolutionary biology, as the fossil record previously lacked any clear examples of this specific action.

Key points

• The fossilized tail fragment is described as the first irrefutable proof of a lizard dropping its tail.
• The event occurred approximately 99 million years ago, challenging previous assumptions about reptile behavior.

Context

This discovery fundamentally alters our understanding of reptile behavior and evolutionary biology, as the fossil record previously lacked any clear examples of this specific action.

Limitations

The evidence is a single tiny fossil tail fragment, which limits the ability to determine the exact circumstances of the drop or the lizard's full behavior at the time.

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