help with French idiom

[whswhs]

I've been making my way through Cuvier's La règne animal, an early survey of animal classification and comparative anatomy. In the introduction, he writes, Les êtres organisés ont même la faculté de reproduire dans une degré variable, selon leurs espèces, certaines de leurs parties quand elles leurs sont enlevées.The first parts seem clear. But the

Comments

[yurig01]

"..., in varying/different degrees, depending on their type, some body parts that were cutted off/amputated." ?

[whswhs]

I thought of that meaning, but it seems strange to say that reproduction involves the loss of body parts, particular if those parts are the reproductive organs.

[5x6]

I think they speak of regeneration, not reproduction.
As when certain lizards can regrow their tails.

[yurig01]

Regeneration undoubtedly