1. plural of autotomy; the act or process by which an animal sheds or casts off a body part (such as a tail or limb) as a defense mechanism or in response to injury.
Usage: biology term; commonly observed in lizards, starfish, and crustaceans

Examples

• Lizards are famous for their autotomies, dropping their tails when threatened by predators.
• The starfish's autotomies allow it to escape from predators and regenerate lost arms.
• Scientists study autotomies in crustaceans to understand how animals survive injury.
• Multiple autotomies can occur in a single animal over its lifetime.
• The gecko's autotomies are so effective that the detached tail continues to move, distracting the predator.