Examples of animal defense mechanisms思维导图

Turn to page 28 Why do puzzles play dead? If the Virginia Opossum is attacked, it sometimes tries to fool its enemy into leaving it alone by playing dead. Its eyes go glassy and it lies quite still with its tongue hanging out. It's more usual and safer for an opossum to run away though or to climb a tree. Which is the smelliest animal? It's the skunk. The skunk is a very smelly creature. If an enemy makes the mistake of getting too close, the skunk sprays it with a stinky oily liquid. The terrible smell can last for days. Which is the prettiest animal? Porcupines are pricklier than any pin cushion. Their backs are covered in hundreds of long, sharp quills with barbs like fish hooks on the ends. Grass snakes try to escape their enemies by playing dead too. If a porcupine is attacked, it raises and spreads its quills, rattling them as they warning. Then it rushes backwards towards its enemy. Some crabs have their own bodyguards. They carry a sea of enemy in each claw so that the enemies' tentacles can sting only enemies that get too close. Porcupine fish blow themselves up into prickly balls when enemies attack.