Page 76 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

DEFENSES

For many animals there is a near-constant threat of 6 SMOKESCREEN 8 PLAYING DEAD
attack by predators in search of food. Those with keen A threatened octopus squirts a Many predators are only attracted to
senses and quick reactions can make a dash for safety billowing cloud of brown ink into moving prey, so they lose interest if
the water around it. While the their target plays dead. By lying still
and hide themselves. Others employ a wide range of
confused predator attacks the cloud, with its mouth open, this grass
strategies—including armor, chemical warfare, or
the octopus is able to make a snake appears to have died, but it
even pretending to be dead—to defend themselves jet-propelled escape. Squid use will soon come back to life once its
against hungry attackers. the same means of defense. attacker has moved on.

1 LOOKING BIGGER 5 SAFETY IN NUMBERS 7 SCARE TACTICS 9 LOSING BODY PARTS
With fur raised and back arched, a Living as a group—be it a shoal of Many butterflies and moths have As a dramatic defense ploy, a
cat makes itself appear bigger to fish, a herd of wildebeest, or this flock patterned spots on their upper wing threatened blue-tailed skink sheds
frighten off an enemy. Many animals of snow geese—has great defense surfaces that resemble large eyes. the tip of its tail. The lost tip continues
use the same method. The Australian benefits. It is more difficult for a When this owl butterfly opens its to wiggle for a while, distracting the
frilled lizard expands its neck collar, predator to pick off individuals from wings, a predator sees the “eyes” predator while the lizard makes its
opens its mouth, and waves its tail a moving group, and members can and backs off, thinking its potential escape. Amazingly, the tail grows back
to look bigger and more scary. warn others of approaching danger. prey is big and fierce. over the following weeks and months.

2 ARMOR
Many insects, crustaceans, and some
mammals, such as armadillos, have a
hard outer covering that provides Lizard expands collar
a degree of protection from of skin in order to
appear bigger
hungry predators. Certain types
of woodlice, called pill bugs,
have jointed armor and can
roll into a ball to protect
their softer underparts.

3 SPINES
Sharp spines provide
a very effective
deterrent, as any
porcupine illustrates.
Inhabitants of rocky
shores and reefs, black
sea urchins are armed with 3
movable spines that put off
all but the most determined of
predators. The spines also inject
poison if they penetrate the skin.
1

4 CHEMICAL ATTACK
Many animals, especially insects,
contain poisonous or irritating
4
chemicals that make them inedible.
Some launch a more direct attack.
The bombardier beetle bends its
abdomen forward and squirts out a
cocktail of chemicals that distracts,
burns, and may even blind its enemy.
2

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