The Science
Lizards are among the animals that self-amputate themselves as a defence mechanism - a phenomenon known as autotomy. They often sever their tails to distract their predators as they flee. However, within a span of 60 days to a year, they regrow a replacement tail which is usually shorter and less coloured than the original. In the place of the tail skeleton, lizards are able to regrow cartilage, spinal cord and muscles along it to regenerate a brand new replacement tail. In the evolutionary tree, these creatures are closest to humans to have such regeneration abilities. This artwork speaks about a particular species of lizard (which is also blessed with the super regenerative power), known as Hemidactylus frenatus. This species is commonly found in South and Southeast Asia. It’s a bit ubiquitous and can be spotted even in households, even when they are not welcomed.
Loosely based on true events, I decided to have fun with this theme and depict my never-ending struggle with unwanted rent-free tenants who often come live with me and leave bits of themselves behind as they leave. These are house lizards (Hemidactylus frenatus), common in South Asia. They are common pests and often find their ways into households and need to be chased away. Often after being confronted by a bigger animal (for example, the owner of the house), when these lizards feel threatened, they self-amputate their tails to facilitate an escape by distracting their attacker. These lizards are blessed with the super-ability to regenerate a new tail in the place of the old one, in a process known as autotomy. Sometimes it becomes easier to spot a lizard that I have confronted before because I would see a tiny replacement tail in the process of regrowth (regeneration).
The Artist
A trained biologist-geneticist, I have had an affair with biology for over a decade, but now I work in the science policy domain. After finishing my PhD in evolutionary biology and genetics from the University of Sheffield, UK, I moved to India where I am currently working as Project Scientist at the Indian Institute of Sciences to make science more open. Talking about science and science communication still continues to be one of my favourite activities. Find me on Twitter @PragyaChaube.
Copyright statement. This work is published under the CC BY-NC-SA license