the casting off by an animal of a part of its body, to facilitate escape when attacked
Derived forms
autotomic (ˌɔːtəˈtɒmɪk) or autotomous (ɔːˈtɒtəməs)
adjective
autotomy in American English
(ɔˈtɑtəmi)
noun
the reflex action by which a leg, claw, tail, etc., as of a lobster, starfish, or lizard, is broken off at a special joint when the part is damaged, seized, etc.: the missing part then regenerates