autotomy

From auto- +‎ -tomy, after German Autotomie or French autotomie.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈtɒtəmi/

autotomy (countable and uncountable, plural autotomies)

1. (chiefly zoology) The spontaneous removal of a limb, tail etc, especially by some invertebrates as a self-defense mechanism.
   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     She has dropped it by autotomy, like the tail or claw of a fleeing lizard, lobster, or starfish.

• tail-shedding