Final answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'then', indicating the regrowth of the lizard's tail after it has been lost.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lizards can lose their tails; then, they grow back! This sentence needs a word that indicates a sequence of events, and 'then' provides the right transition. In the fascinating world of lizards, there is a great deal of diversity in their physical attributes and behaviors, including the ability of many species to regenerate lost body parts such as tails. While some lizards like the glass lizard and the flap-footed lizards have evolved to lose their legs or have extremely small legs, this adaptation often provides significant advantages in their natural habitats.
Legless lizards, which might be mistaken for snakes, still retain characteristics from their evolutionary history, such as external ears. Additionally, lizards have various survival mechanisms. For instance, when facing a predator, they might evolve to have camouflaged coloration, sharp spines, or even toxins to defend themselves. These adaptations make it easier for lizards to avoid predators or recover from predator attacks, such as losing a tail.
Although regenerating a lost tail or limb seems like it could make a lizard vulnerable during the process, it is an important part of a lizard’s ability to escape from predators and survive in a variety of environments. Notably, lizards are mostly carnivorous, with diets primarily consisting of insects, although some species are large enough to prey on birds and mammals, and a rare few are herbivorous, eating only plants.