Tail autotomy, the ability of certain animals to shed their tails or appendages as a defense mechanism against predators, is a fascinating topic in the study of animal behavior and physiology.

When threatened by a predator, many lizard species can shed their tails—a phenomenon known as autotomy. The tail detaches along specialized fracture planes within the vertebrae, a defense ...

If you’ve ever seen a gecko suddenly drop its tail, it can be a pretty startling sight. But what you might not know, is that this behavior, called “autotomy,” is actually a survival mechanism that ...

You can check out more of her work here. View Full Profile. Learn about our Editorial Policies. Many species of lizards can drop their tails to distract a predator while they make their getaway, an ...