6 animals that grow body parts back

The axolotl is often called the king of regeneration. This unusual salamander can regrow legs, feet, spinal cord tissue, parts of its heart, and even sections of its brain without leaving major scars.

Scientists around the world study axolotls because their healing powers are considered one of the closest things to “real-life regeneration” seen in vertebrates.

A starfish can regrow lost arms after escaping predators. Some species can even regenerate an entirely new body from just one surviving arm if part of the central body remains attached.

This slow but impressive process helps starfish survive in harsh ocean environments where injuries are common.

Many lizards intentionally drop their tails when attacked — a defence mechanism called tail autotomy. The detached tail keeps moving for a few seconds, distracting predators while the lizard escapes.

Over time, the tail grows back, although the new one may look slightly different from the original.

Unlike horns, deer antlers fall off and regrow naturally every year. This makes them one of the fastest-growing animal tissues in the world.

Male deer shed antlers after mating season and begin growing fresh ones again within months, using large amounts of calcium and nutrients from their bodies.

An octopus can regrow injured or missing arms over time. Since octopus arms are extremely important for movement, hunting, and sensing their surroundings, regeneration plays a major role in survival.

The new arm gradually regains strength, flexibility, and even normal suction cups as it develops.

Planarian worms have one of the most extreme regeneration abilities in nature. Even if their bodies are cut into pieces, each piece can sometimes grow into a completely new worm.

Scientists believe special stem cells inside the worm are responsible for this incredible healing power.