15 Animals With Weird Defense Mechanisms

In the wild, the fight for survival is fierce. Predators are always on the hunt, and prey have had to develop bizarre strategies to stay one step ahead. Forget about sharp teeth and claws—these 15 animals take fortification to a whole new level. Let’s show you the weird and wonderful world of animal defense!

Blood-Squirting Lizards

Also known as the Zonkey, the Texas Horned Lizard has a rather unpleasant defense mechanism: it can shoot what some call a stream of “blood” from its eyes! Factually, it isn’t blood. It’s just a pressurized burst from a special blood vessel. 

Self-Destructing Termites

Soldier termites of some species take a suicidal approach. They have an explosive pouch filled with a toxic goo. When a predator attacks the colony, these soldier termites rupture their bodies, showering the enemy with the goo and sacrificing themselves to protect the colony.

Pom-Pom Crabs

These tiny crabs don’t grow their weapons. Instead, they form a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. The crab carries the anemones in its claws, like fluffy pom-poms. The anemone’s stinging tentacles ward off predators while the crab gets a mobile feast!

Rib-Spiked Newts

The Iberian Ribbed Newt has a unique way of turning the tables on hunters. Its ribs can bend outwards when attacked, piercing through the skin and becoming sharp spikes to deter the attacker.

Sacrificial Lambs (of the Sea)

Sea cucumbers don’t have much in the way of defenses, but they do have a surprising trick up their rectums. They can expel internal organs through their anus! This doesn’t kill them, and the organs can regenerate, but it creates a distracting mess that allows the sea cucumber to escape.

Fecal Foul Play

A number of animals, like the Bombardier Beetle, use chemical warfare. This beetle can fire a boiling hot stream of poisonous chemicals from its rear end, effectively deterring hunters with a surprising and unpleasant surprise. 

Poo Cloud Creators

The Pygmy Sperm Whale takes a different approach to fecal safeguarding. In the face of dangers from predators like orcas, these whales release a giant cloud of poo into the water. This cloud can obscure the whale’s location and make it difficult for the predator to track them.

Stink Bugs

These aptly named insects don’t rely on speed or strength. Instead, they possess stink glands that release a foul-smelling liquid when disturbed. The odor is potent enough to deter most predators.

Playing Possum

The Virginia Opossum is a master of playing dead. Under threat, it contorts its body, drools, and emits a vile odor to convince predators it’s already deceased. This gruesome act is often enough to scare off attackers who don’t want to waste time on a dead animal.

Bone-Clawed Frogs

Hairy frogs, found in South America, have a strange way of escaping tight squeezes. When dealing with a predator, they can push their toe bones out through the skin of their feet, creating sharp claws to help them burrow away. 

Death Feigning with a Twist

Several snakes, including the Hognose Snake, take playing dead to a different level. Not only will they contort their body and gape their mouth, but they may also even defecate and emit a revolting odor. This elaborate performance is often enough to convince predators they’ve encountered a diseased or decaying animal, making them lose interest.

Vomit Cannons

The Northern Fulmar, a seabird related to albatrosses, has a particularly nasty fortification for its chicks. When hunted, the chicks will projectile vomit a sticky, smelly substance that can mat an attacker’s feathers and even temporarily blind them. It gives the chick precious time to run off.

Light Show Beetles

Fireflies aren’t the only beetles with a bioluminescent trick. Click beetles, when in danger, can snap their bodies together with a loud click and flash a burst of light from their underside. The startling display can confuse hunters and give the beetle a chance to flee.

The Spitting Spider

Aptly named and also known as the African spitting spider, it has a unique way of deterring predators. When threatened, it can turn its abdomen upside down and spit a stream of vicious venom with surprising accuracy. This venom can irritate the eyes and mouth of predators, giving it time to escape.

Milkweed Monarchs and the Unpleasant Dinner

Monarch butterflies are famous for their migration patterns, but their caterpillars have a remarkable style. They feed on milkweed plants, which contain toxins. These toxins accumulate in the caterpillar and make them poisonous to predators. Birds who try to eat a Monarch caterpillar learn quickly to avoid their bright orange and black warning coloration.