Shedding Flesh

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Lizards use a variety of inventive systems to protect themselves from predators. They sacrifice part of their body to save their own life. It can shed its tail and run off when attached leaving the predator distracted by the wriggling body part. The tail eventually grows back, but the predator cannot even eat the tail that was left by the lizard because of the parasites in its tissue.

 Protective Shell

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The simple defense system of turtles is its shell. It’s so effective as a protector for the turtles. Predators cannot penetrate it, and killer whales and large sharks are the only ones that are brave enough to attack turtles.

Prickly Hedgehogs

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Hedgehogs have spikes that are enough to deter predators. However, it can also inflict a nasty prick on its own babies that’s why hedgehogs have soft undersides where its babies can safely suckle. The babies have soft spikes in the beginning which lengthen and sharpen as they grow. The hedgehogs must roll itself into a tight ball, tucking its snout into its furry bell in order for it to gain full protection when threatened.

Beetle’s Hot Gas

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The beetle has two harmless chemicals in its abdomen which the beetle squirts into a special chamber when threatened. In this chamber, a chemical reaction takes place which releases a gush of hot gas from the beetle’s anus. The predators are startled because this release makes a popping sound. The beetle can then turn the gas on and off 500 times a second until the predator leaves.

 Poisonous Frogs

All frogs have poison glands in their skin, but the poison-arrow frogs from the South and Central America produce some of the deadliest poisons known to man. Eating these frogs can cause hallucinations, convulsions, nervous system failure and a narrowing of the blood vessels which can be fatal.

Inflatable Puffers

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Pufferfishes have the ability to inflate themselves into a balloon shape by swallowing water. Their bodies are also covered with thorny spikes, which stand out on inflation, providing a formidable defence against attack. The organs and fluids of pufferfishes are also highly poisonous to humans, if consumed, a small amount can kill a person.

Flying Fish

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Flying fish can leap up to a meter clear of the waves and glide through the air at speeds of 15 km/h on their outstretched, rigid fins, leaving their pursuer behind. This is their way of escaping their predators in the sea. Although this has disadvantage because they sometimes land on the decks of boats, where they were lucky if the boatman will return them to the sea, otherwise, they will serve as dinner for the day.