Capable of undergoing or characterized by self-amputation or self-detachment of body parts.
From Greek 'auto-' (self) + 'tomos' (cutting, from 'tome' meaning cut) + '-ous' (adjective suffix). Scientific adjective describing animals with this ability.
Only certain animals are autotomous—it requires special anatomical adaptations like breakaway joints or pre-formed fracture lines. Interestingly, not all lizard species are autotomous, and some populations of the same species have evolved to NOT autotomize if predation pressure is low.
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