- autospasy
-
n. [Gr. autos, self; spaein, to pluck off](ARTHROPODA: Chelicerata)The loss of appendages by breaking them at a predetermined locus of weakness when pulled by an outside force; frequent in spiders and other arachnids.
Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology. A.R. Maggenti and S.L. Gardne. 2005.