spontaneous removal or casting off of a body part (as the tail of a lizard or claw or a lobster) especially when the organism is injured or under attack.
The ability of most lizards to lose their tail. This is beneficial in lizards as it aids in escaping a predator. However, it can also be detrimental because the tail is where they store fat and it takes a lot of energy to re-grow (not all lizards can lose their tail, and those that do can only grow them back when the conditions are right).
The ability of certain lower animals, such as lizards and starfish, to cast off injured body parts, such as the tail and, usually, to regenerate new ones (Morris 1992).
The ability to detach body parts upon injury, or as a self-defense mechanism. Some salamanders can detach their tails in an effort to distract potential predators. The limbs of animals with such abilities are usually regenerated.
self-amputation, typified by tail loss of some lizards when attacked.
The breaking off a damaged leg or limb at a specialised point, with possible regeneration.
The breaking off of a damaged limb, with subsequent regeneration.
The voluntary shedding of the body parts of animals, usually in defense. Autotomy of the tail is common in many lizards.
shedding of a part, as in some lizards, worms and arthropods
The defensive release of the tail; also refers to the autoamputation of toes or by constriction of retained skin shed
Autotomy (from the Greek auto = "self-" and tomy = "severing") or self amputation is the act whereby an animal severs one of its own appendages, usually as a self-defense mechanism designed to elude a predator's grasp. Geckos, skinks and other lizards that are captured by the tail will shed part of the tail structure and thus be able to flee. The detached tail will continue to wriggle, creating a deceptive sense of continued struggle and attracting the predator's attention away from the fleeing prey animal.