Animals - natural self defense mechanism

[brighamr]

I'm trying to get together a list of all the animals around the globe that have unique self defense mechanisms. Not just cammo, but something specifically intended to save them from a predator.

A few that come to mind:
poison dart frog
porcupine

I realize that a lot of anti-gun people I know, also have a love for animals. One way to convince these people that guns are useful for self defense is to rationalize with their love for animals. example: Nature gave the poison dart frog a poisonous outer membrane as a self defense mechanism. If a predator trys to eat the frog, the poison will cause immediate discomfort and in some cases death to the predator allowing the frog to escape.

Humans are not given a poisonous outer membrane. Historically humans have used tools to defend themselves from predators (ax, club, etc). In this modern age we have firearms. A lot of people think that if someone has a firearm they will go out looking for trouble. The poison dart frog doesn't go out rubbing itself against other frogs to cause them harm, it merely uses it's membrane if/when attacked. I carry a gun for the same reason, to use it if/when attacked.


I'd like suggestions of other animals, and suggestions of different wording for this idea (I'm not the best writer). I plan on using this in response to concealed carry polls, blogs, etc and possibly make a few posters or something.

TIA

 

[230RN]

General: teeth, nails (claws), mass of appendages, brain.

Octopus ink.

Venom as in snakes and spiders. (I understand that most venomous bites from both are defensive.)

Just off the top of my little pointy head.

 

[blackcash88]

There's that beetle that shoots acid out of its butt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/422599.stm

 

[brighamr]

230RN - thanks. I'm trying to think of specific devices that are used solely for defense.

teeth, nails, claws, and venom can be used for defense, but can also be used for hunting... ie. a cougar has large claws and teeth to kill it's prey.

octopus ink is good. I'm trying to think of mechanisms that are used solely for defense.

 

[Packman]

Skunk?

Fire Coral?

Sea anemone?

Stink Bugs?

Armadillo? (curl up and hide probably isn't what you're looking for though, unless you're looking for body armor...possum's no good for your point.)

Lionfish?

Stingray?

Bombardier Beetle? (really cool bug, check that one out.)

Bees/wasps? that's a last ditch defense, that's for sure. Kills the bee, i'm not sure it kills the wasp though.

This is a neat argument angle, I like it.

 

[dewage83]

We were given our brains as weapons. Firearms are only tool's.

 

[blackcash88]

Spitting camels

Rattlesnake's rattler (not used in hunting prey)

Anything that can change its color for camoflage.

 

[JesseL]

We were given our brains as weapons. Firearms are only tool's.

Okay, but where are you going with that semantic argument?

 

[Klusterbuck]

Yeah, bees, I don't know.....

I've never understood how it could or would be used for defense, if it kills you......

I mean, if I had a stinger, and you were trying to kill me, yeah, I'm gonna sting you.... I'm gonna die, but your gonna hate me for it.....

More spite than anything.....

 

[Owen]

Look into the amazing degree to which plants use chemical warfare for self-defense. It's amazing how vicious they are.

Did you know that corals fight?

 

[Auburn1992]

a rolly polly

or pill bug whatever you want to call it

 

[Apple a Day]

*I think it's a sea cucumber that puts out a mass of snot while it sleeps to A)help hold in its scent and B)give a predator a mouthfull of goo before it can bite the cucumber.
*Chameleons or some other lizard that sacrifices its tail to a predator to get away then grows a new one.
*Hagfish put out amazing amounts of snot to slip away from predators.
*Horned toads squirt blood out of their eyes to distract predators.
* Monarch butterflies take in toxins from plants as caterpillars which makes them taste horrible.
* I've seen snakes and people squirt poo when they're in trouble.
* Opossums play dead and emit a stink
* Cobras stand up and spread their hoods to intimidate, also some kind of lizard extends its neck folds to do the same thing.
* Flying squirrels can spread their skin and glide away.

 

[Packman]

I've never understood how it could or would be used for defense, if it kills you......

Well, it's a different concept. It's akin to a soldier making a suicide charge. The individual bee is giving up it's life, but it does so in defense of the hive. It's not for the defense of the individual.

 

[brighamr]

owen - that's the type of info i'm looking for! do you have any specifics or links? much appreciated!

 

[brighamr]

*Horned toads squirt blood out of their eyes to distract predators.

Also a vary good example IMO

 

[Jim March]

Ferret: tries to make friends with literally anything it sees. If that doesn't work, goes completely berserk, will jump up at the throat of an attacking dog 40x it's size, latch on with it's teeth, start tearing with all four sets of claws going like buzz-saws . Poster children for the phrase "no fear!"

 

[ZeSpectre]

Puffer fish expand trying to get too big to swallow. Apparently a few species of frogs do this as well.
Many types of birds also do this (expand feathers to look big n' scary)

 

[sm]

Quail.

This beautiful bird can teach one a lot about how to stay safe.

 

[Chipperman]

Ferrets-- Poster children for the phrase "no fear!"

Too right!
Take a look at this video for proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3-ok6VUnJw




(My Wife's ferrets)

 

[qajaq59]

Non poisonous critters that use the colors of poisonous ones. Such as some caterpillars.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Not only is it natural for animals to use force to defend themselves, but to defend their property. That is their food, nest, young and territory. Take a rabbit for example. You never heard of a rabbit attacking anybody. But if you run your hand down into a rabbits hole, grab him and try to pull him out, he will bite you.

 

[hecate]

Don't forget the Combat Mindset.

http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/Jayrfc/?action=view&current=Bad-assTexasrabbit.flv

 

[Cyclimus]

Porcupine quills
Sea urchin ?quills?
Deer antlers (to a point)
Bottlenose dolphin beaks
Elephant tusks
Camel spit (just kidding!)

 

[Cosmoline]

Heck most modern FLORA have toxins and other defenses against the plant eaters. Way back in the day before there were creatures on land you could have walked up to pretty much any growing thing and eaten it. Now they have everything from thick waxy coatings and spines to lethal toxins.

 

[3fgburner]

Yeah, bees, I don't know.....
I've never understood how it could or would be used for defense, if it kills you.......

Depends on what they sting. Other insects, or arachnids, or whatnot, it doesn't rip the stinger out. For example, I think queens will sting other proto-queens to keep them from maturing. Sting a mammal, die.