Spiny mice have skin that's basically built like a perforated sticker, so it just tears right off if a predator grabs them.
March 25, 2026
Original Paper
A novel fracture lattice in spiny mouse skin facilitates tissue autotomy and regeneration
bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.23.713756
The Takeaway
While some lizards are famous for dropping their tails, mammals were thought to lack specialized structures for shedding body parts. This study identifies a specific 3D collagen lattice that guides where the skin breaks under stress while simultaneously prepping the area to regrow without scars.
From the abstract
Autotomy is a unique phenotype whereby an animal sheds a body part to escape predation. The timing and location of autotomy are tightly regulated by preformed planes of weakness (aka fracture planes) which facilitate tissue loss. While autotomy is often followed by regeneration, these phenotypes are rarely reported in mammals. A notable exception are spiny mice (Acomys) which exhibit skin autotomy and more remarkably, complete tissue regeneration. Presently, mechanisms underlying autotomy and co