1. casting off or shedding a body part (such as a tail or limb) as a defense mechanism or in response to injury
Usage: present participle of autotomize; commonly used in biology and zoology contexts; describes a natural survival strategy in certain animals

Examples

• The lizard is autotomizing its tail to escape the predator's grasp.
• Many species of geckos are capable of autotomizing their tails when threatened.
• The starfish began autotomizing one of its arms after being caught in a trap.
• Autotomizing is an effective survival strategy for certain crustaceans.
• The salamander is autotomizing its limb to free itself from danger.
• Scientists study autotomizing behavior to understand animal defense mechanisms.