Jakarta –
Some animals have experimented with the process autotom. According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), autotomy is the severing of an animal’s body when disturbed by an enemy or when an animal tries to escape.
Perhaps friends saw lizards or lizards with docked tails. After breaking up, the tail appears to still be moving. This is what is called autotomy.
For more details, here is a complete discussion starting with the definition, how it works and examples of animals.
Definition
Cite a book Environmental biology by Andi Badli Rompegading, autotomy is an act of releasing certain parts so that the weight of the body becomes lighter. By releasing some of its organs, it will be easier for the animal to save itself from the pursuit of the enemy. Autotomy itself is part of the adaptation of animal behavior.
Described in the book Explore Natural Sciences for Grade IX/MT Middle School by Sadiman and Tristia Ningsih, this behavioral adaptation is an adaptation or life habit of living beings to their environment. Usually, these adaptations are also a response to stimuli from outside the body.
In addition to autotomy, animals also make behavioral adaptations by changing body color or camouflage. The goal is the same, namely to protect yourself from animals that want to eat it.
Work method
Cite journals by title Lizard tail regeneration process by Nyoman Puniawati Soesilo, an example of autotomy is the autotomy of the queue. The way this autotomy works is when animals such as lizards or lizards are chased and caught by the tail.
Now, the severed tail section will move for a few moments to get the enemy’s attention. Meanwhile, the animal in question has escaped.
It was explained in the diary that the disconnection of the tail from the animal’s body was followed by a process of regeneration. So that the new tail grows to the size and shape of the original tail. The regeneration process itself is divided into three stages, namely:
– The wound healing phase of skin epithelial cells performing amoeboid movements.
– Formation phase of the Blastema
– And the stages of differentiation and growth of the tail.
Animal example
The following are examples of animals that have autotomic behavioral adaptations, as reported by the sources above:
1. Lizard
Lizards usually protect themselves by lowering their tails when threatened or when being chased by predators. The severed tail will twitch to fool predators, allowing the lizard to escape.
2. Lizard
Similar to the previous lizard, the lizard also breaks its tail when it feels threatened or in danger. It breaks its tail so that the predator thinks the tail is the body it is looking for.
3. Gecko
The gecko’s concept of protection is the same as that of geckos and lizards, that is, breaking its tail to divert the attention of the predators that are pursuing it.
4. Salamander
Salamander also has the same method as in the previous example, which is to snap its tail to save itself.
5. Crab
Cite a book Soft crab breeding and business by Yushinta Fujaya et al, autotomy also often occurs in crabs. This usually happens when they are caught. The crab will take off its legs to escape. Interestingly, if some crab legs fall off before moulting, the legs will return intact after moulting.
Well, that was the discussion about autotom both from understanding, how it works, and from examples of animals experiencing it. We hope this article is helpful, fellow detikers.
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