autotomise
/ɔˈtɑtəmaɪz/
verb
- To intentionally break off a body part as a defense mechanism (used especially of animals like lizards and crabs).
- The crab can autotomise a claw if it is grabbed by an attacker.
- Scientists studied how the spider autotomises a leg to survive an injury.
- Some lizards autotomise their tails to escape from predators.