A tail that distracts a predator

In a situation of threat, this salamander can detach the tail and regenerate it later. The loose part continues to move, diverting the predator's attention while the animal seeks shelter. Gaia Biological Park describes this mechanism for the species, referred to by Visit Cabeceiras to the Cabreira. It is a curiosity to know without touching or provoking the animal.

The Gaia Biological Park highlights this capacity as unique among the salamanders of the Iberian Peninsula. The mechanism has two moments: immediate distraction by the loose tail and subsequent regeneration. They are not simultaneous events.

Compare this story with growth: losing part of the tail in defense and going through metamorphosis are different processes. An isolated photograph does not show the complete sequence of any of them. Knowing behavior serves to understand the animal without trying to reproduce the threat situation.