Explore the fascinating world of animals with the incredible ability to regrow body parts.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Axolotl
The axolotl is renowned for its extraordinary regenerative abilities. It can regenerate not just its limbs, but also complex structures such as its spinal cord, heart and parts of its brain.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Flatworm
The planarian flatworm is renowned for its incredible regenerative abilities. It can regenerate its entire body from just a small piece of its tissue.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Tunicates
Tunicates are fascinating creatures with notable regenerative abilities. They can regenerate lost tissues and organs, including parts of their digestive and reproductive systems.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Starfish
Starfish, or sea stars, are famous for their amazing ability to regenerate. They can grow back lost arms, and sometimes, a single arm can even develop into a whole new starfish.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Salamander
Salamanders are renowned for their exceptional regenerative abilities. They can regrow not just their limbs but also other complex body parts such as their spinal cord, heart and even parts of their brain.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Regeneration involves specialised cells, often stem cells, that can transform into different types of tissues needed to replace lost body parts.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Regeneration is guided by specific genes and proteins that direct the growth and development of new tissues, ensuring they form correctly and integrate with existing structures.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
While many animals can regenerate, the process is complex and can be limited by factors such as the type of tissue, the animal's age and the extent of the injury.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
Regenerative abilities have evolved differently across species, with some animals like starfish and axolotls developing highly specialised systems to regrow lost body parts, showcasing the diversity of evolutionary adaptations.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
5 facts on Hvaldimir: Russian 'spy' whale found dead in Norway