Image (IMAGE) Queen Mary University of London Caption Photograph of a specimen of the common European starfish Asterias rubens with a regenerating arm. Starfish shed arms (autotomy) when attacked by predators and then regenerate a new arm to replace the lost arm. Research by scientists at Queen Mary University of London have uncovered the mechanisms of autotomy by identifying a neurohormone that promotes arm loss in starfish. Credit Professor Maurice Elphick / Queen Mary University of London Usage Restrictions None License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.