autotomy

Noun

Meaning

spontaneous removal or casting off of a body part (as the tail of a lizard or claw of a lobster) especially when the organism is injured or under attack

Hypernyms

Examples

Squamates and tuatara both show caudal autotomy (loss of the tail-tip when threatened), and have transverse cloacal slits. Source: Internet

Dorit, Walker & Barnes (1991) p. 789–790 Starfish and brittle stars may undergo autotomy when attacked, an arm becoming detached which may distract the predator for long enough for the animal to escape. Source: Internet

Page 204. Autotomy further Some salamander species use tail autotomy to escape predators. Source: Internet

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