autotomizev.
/ɔːˈtɒtəmʌɪz/, U.S. /ɔˈtɑdəˌmaɪz/, /ɑˈtɑdəˌmaɪz/ Zoology.
1. transitive. Of an animal: to cast off (a limb or other part), typically following a disturbance or attack.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [verb (transitive)] > cast off part of the body > when disturbed or in order to escape
autotomize1901
1901 T. H. Morgan Regeneration 153 In this way the arm may be autotomized, piece by piece, to its very base.
1969 Jrnl. Invertebr. Pathol. 13 47 A laboratory-maintained specimen of a starfish..which was autotomizing an arm.
2000 New Scientist 18 Mar. 97/3 Lobsters can autotomize their legs: there is a weak point near the base at which the legs can be shed if they are injured or trapped.
2006 Y. Bar-Coen Biomimetics i. 18 The lizard autotomizes its tail and the tail moves rapidly, diverting the attention of the suspected predator while the lizard escapes to safety.
2. intransitive. To undergo autotomy; to cast off a limb or other part.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by habits or actions > habits and actions > [verb (intransitive)] > cast off part of the body
shed1510
skin1773
exuviate1855
moult1869
autotomize1911
1911 [see autotomizing adj. at Derivatives].
1915 Amer. Naturalist 49 32 Some starfishes have probably not autotomized at all.
1951 J. Steinbeck & E. F. Ricketts Log from ‘Sea of Cortez’ xxviii. 267 Two large, hairy grapsoid crabs..were..difficult to catch, and when caught, battled fiercely and ended up by autotomizing.
1985 Jrnl. Exper. Marine Biol. & Ecol. 94 228 Depressants tended to slow the rate of separation (in those animals that autotomized under the influence of the depressants), while stimulants accelerated it.
2008 T. P. King & M. Guralnick in R. F. Lockey & D. K. Ledford Allergens & Allergen Immunotherapy (ed. 4) xiv. 237 Honeybees will occasionally sting without autotomizing.
Derivatives
auˈtotomized adj.
ΚΠ
1908 W. A. Herdman et al. Rep. 1907 Lancs. Sea-fisheries Lab. Univ. Liverpool 257 The autotomy is produced as the result of a reflex, and the seat of this reflex is in the ganglion of the somite to which the autotomised leg belongs.
1951 Evolution 5 203/2 The autotomized limb or tail will be regenerated.
2002 M. D. Greenfield Signalers & Receivers iii. 99 Autotomized stingers left in the skin of an intruder by the initial defenders continue to release alarm pheromone.
auˈtotoˌmizing adj. capable of performing autotomy; in the process of undergoing autotomy.
ΚΠ
1911 Biol. Bull. 21 390 In order to study the changes occurring in the rapidly autotomizing animals these were examined with a Zeiss binocular.
1989 Biol. Bull. 176 169/1 An autotomy-promoting factor..has been isolated from the fluids released by scalded or autotomizing sea stars.
2002 Herpetologica 58 75/2 Most autotomizing species [of lizard] regrow the tail, and many do so very rapidly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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