Ameloctopus has a trick to flee harm;
His autotomy works like a charm.
What's craunching on him
Is left grasping a limb
And a tale of a throwaway arm.
When threatened by a predator, Ameloctopus litoralis sheds one of its arms. The arm thrashes about to distract (and feed) the predator while the octopus makes its getaway. Drop-tail lizards can get away with the same trick. (oh-TAH-toe-mee) autotomy.
Page copyright © 2006 Robert Holland
All Rights Reserved.
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