Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/2222
Scientific nameLacerta
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameBody, Peculiarities, Mounted wet bone and tissue
DescriptionA lizard with a twin tail.
The second tail in this lizard has formed as a result of an injury to the base of its original tail. Normally regeneration occurs after the tail is detached, but in this case the first tail was not fully separated. Hunter brought this specimen back from Portugal, where he served as an army surgeon in 1762-3. As well as his military duties he found time to collect and study local fauna, and was particularly interested in studying the regeneration of tails in lizards.
Production date 1762 - 1763
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Physical Location
Location
Not on public display: contact museum for access conditions
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of bone and tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with a glass lid. Dimensions: 119mm h x 73mm d.
Materialglass (material)
Lacerta
Dimensions
whole height: 119 mm
whole diameter: 73 mm
whole weight: 516 g
whole diameter: 73 mm
whole weight: 516 g
Bibliography
SourceDobson 1970-71
Transcript2222: A larger specimen of the same species of Lizard, showing the growth of a second tail, in consequence of a wound near the base of the first.
SourceHunter 1861
Vol. 1, page 245
NotesHunter describes how duplicate tails form in lizards owing to a 'natural disposition' of the tail, so that if the tail is only partly detached or if the new tail is split early on in its growth two tails are formed.
