Autotomy

As autotomy (Greek αυτοτομία autotomía = self - Tailoring ' ) is called in animals the ability of some species to drop a body part at risk. Depending on the group of animals discarded body part grows after complete, incomplete, or not after (regeneration).

Examples

• Lizards can shed their tail in danger. This is still moving several minutes after it was dropped in order to draw the attention of an enemy feeding on itself, while the can flee " rest " lizard. Most of the tail grows only in abbreviated form.
• Two African spiny mouse species, Acomys kempi Acomys and percivali can counteract access by predators by their strippable without much resistance skin. This makes them the first mammals, in which autotomy was detected. All layers of the lost skin can be completely regenerated with little to no scarring, including hair follicles, sweat glands and other. These properties are currently being investigated for application in human wound healing through
• Earthworms and mud tube worms can separate some segments of her body at the rear end, which are later regenerated.
• In harvestmen dropped legs grow only in some species after again, so often you see harvestmen with less than eight legs.
• Many species of stick insects have the ability to throw off limbs to designated break points between the leg and thigh ring and replace it with the next molts again little by little.
• Are harp snails attacked, they throw off a part of the foot that continues to move and the predator distracts.
• Starfish can cut off body parts. They are thus also able to reproduce asexually, as from discarded parts in some species can develop new individuals ( Fissiparie ).
• Sea cucumbers can cut off parts of their internal organs and regenerate.
• Larvae of Commons Binsenjungfer can shed their gill filaments at risk. Rejuvenate with the moults again.