Rex Trulove
A lot of people know what autotomy is, though they might not have heard the word. It is something that is common to many lizards and to crayfish. Do you have an idea of what the word means yet?
The word is from Greek. Auto means “self” and “tome” means “severing”. Now, have you figured it out?
Autotomy means “to cast off a body part”. This is what lizards and crustaceans are known for. In the case of lizards, they will sometimes lose their tails in order to fool a predator. The predator goes after the tail instead of the lizard, allowing the lizard to escape. The tail later grows back.
In the case of crayfish and other crustaceans, they are able to lose a leg for the same reason a lizard loses its tail. As with the lizard, the leg grows back as long as there is sufficient time before the next molt.
Now you know that there is a word for a lizard being able to cast off its tail.
Learned something new once again Rex.
That is a good thing. This one is actually a term used mostly in science, but most people are aware of what it is even if they don’t know the word.
Hahaha Ann Hartley! You are going to do a spot of “lizard-charming”, are you? 😀 This is a very interesting blog Rex Truelove. I didn’t know this word.
It is a very interesting ability. Scientists still don’t know exactly how it is done, though they have theories.
How cool is this explanation. Thank you again for the knowledge.
It is sort of a fun word to learn, huh?
I will use that word in a compliment to the next lizard I meet, which will be quite soon as they abound in this place.
Well, hey, it is a very useful ability. One of the crayfish in my tank was also missing a claw when I caught him. It is almost to full size, a few weeks later. Scientists have long studied autotomy, hoping to find a way for people to grow back severed limbs.