Autotomy | Self-Defense, Regeneration & Adaptation | Britannica (original) (raw)

autotomy Fishing spider (Dolomedes) with two legs missing from its left side.

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Also known as: autoamputation, self-amputation

Written and fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Also called:

Self-amputation

autotomy, the ability of certain animals to release part of the body that has been grasped by an external agent. A notable example is found among lizards that break off the tail when it is seized by a predator. The phenomenon is found also among certain worms, salamanders, and spiders. The cast-off part is sometimes regenerated.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.