autotomy

American  

[aw-tot-uh-mee] / ɔˈtɒt ə mi /

noun

plural

autotomies

1. Zoology.

   1. separation of a body part.

   2. self-amputation of a damaged or trapped appendage.

2. the performance of surgery upon oneself.

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autotomy British  

/ ɔːˈtɒtəmɪ, ˌɔːtəˈtɒmɪk /

noun

1. the casting off by an animal of a part of its body, to facilitate escape when attacked

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Other Word Forms

• autotomic adjective
• autotomous adjective

Etymology

Origin of autotomy

First recorded in 1895–1900; auto- ¹ + -tomy

Example Sentences

Scorpions can detach a body part to escape a predator — a process called autotomy.

From Seattle Times

But lizards may be the best-known users of autotomy.

From New York Times

In most animals and even some sea slugs, autotomy is thought to serve only as a means of avoiding predation.

From New York Times

"We think that very old ones gain little merit from autotomy, as they probably cannot reproduce," Mitoh said.

From Scientific American

Other creatures can cast off body parts when needed, like when some lizards drop their tails to get away from a predator, in a biological phenomenon called autotomy.

From Seattle Times