Enabling animals to survive in their environments Animal Protection Enabling animals to survive in their environments

Body Coverings – Skin

Body Coverings – Fur/Hair

Body Coverings – Scales

Body Coverings – Feathers

Camouflage

Camouflage

Mimicry viceroy monarch coral snake king snake The king snake has similar colors to the coral snake. The coral snake is venomous. viceroy butterfly monarch butterfly The viceroy butterfly has similar colors to the monarch butterfly. The monarch tastes bitter to birds, so they avoid it. Since the viceroy looks so similar, birds avoid them too.

Mimicry walking stick leaf insect leaf insect owl moth The walking stick is able to imitate branches and twigs. This leaf insect’s body has wings that are serrated, and it looks similar to the leaf on which it is standing. The next leaf insect’s body is flat and green, resembling an oak leaf. When the owl moth is spotted from above, the two spots on the lower wings look like an owl’s eyes. leaf insect owl moth

Animal Defenses Losing Part of their Body: Worm: The earthworm has a pretty simple body shape. An earthworm can often grow a new back end if it loses the one it was born with! So, a hungry bird may get part of a meal, but an earthworm gets a second chance at survival. Starfish: Some species have the ability to regenerate an arm when one has been lost to a predator. Lizards: Some species can grow a new tail when the tail has been lost to a predator.

Animal Defenses “Playing Dead” – Opossum: Many meat-eating animals will not eat an animal if they find it already dead. The opossum uses this fact to save its own life. If a opossum feels it's in danger, it may choose to play dead! The opossum falls over and curls up. Its tongue hangs out, and its eyes look lifeless. This act can fool a hunting animal into losing interest.

Animal Defenses Appearing Bigger: Toad: When a toad is under attack, it uses a trick. It takes a deep breath and puffs up its whole body. This trick can make a toad look three times as big as it really is...which just might scare away an attacker. Porcupine: When the porcupine is under attack, it extends its quills to look larger. Then, it shakes so that the quills make a rattling noise. If a predator gets too close and gets poked by a quill, the quill releases by contact.

Animal Defenses Other Defense Mechanisms: Skunk: Spraying a smelly liquid Armadillo: Rolling into a ball Turtle and tortoise: Pulling all of the soft body parts into its shell