The casting off of a part of the body (e.g. the tail of a lizard) by an animal under threat.
〔动〕自切，自断；自截
Example sentencesExamples
The characteristics that best predicted autotomy - smaller body size or female gender - also correlated with a lower escape rate by the alternative escape tactic, struggling and pinching the predator.
I could not assess at what point during the predation encounters the lizards employed autotomy.
As in crustaceans, autotomy must be done before a critical period (about 3 days posthatching) so that there is sufficient time to regenerate the appendage before the next ecdysis.
Through a process called autotomy, muscles can contract violently along the base of an appendage, breaking off the limb.
Definition of autotomy in US English:
autotomy
nounôˈtädəmē
Zoology
The casting off of a part of the body (e.g. the tail of a lizard) by an animal under threat.
〔动〕自切，自断；自截
Example sentencesExamples
Through a process called autotomy, muscles can contract violently along the base of an appendage, breaking off the limb.
I could not assess at what point during the predation encounters the lizards employed autotomy.
As in crustaceans, autotomy must be done before a critical period (about 3 days posthatching) so that there is sufficient time to regenerate the appendage before the next ecdysis.
The characteristics that best predicted autotomy - smaller body size or female gender - also correlated with a lower escape rate by the alternative escape tactic, struggling and pinching the predator.