Special characteristics that protect animals from danger.

1. Animals have different physical characteristics that protect themselves from their enemies. These include

·         A hard shell

·         Thick skin

·         Dry, hard scales

·         Horns

·         Spines

·         Sharp claws

·         Body shape or colour that matches the surroundings

·         Good eyesight and hearing 

• The bodies of garden snails, clams, crabs and tortoises are covered by a hard shell. The shell helps to protect the animals from their enemies.

                                                                     Snail

                                                                       Clam

 

Tortoise

  

 Crab

•  Garden snails and tortoise can also pull their head, legs or their whole body inside their shell. Clams protect themselves by closing up their shells.
• Rhinoceros and elephants have thick skin. When bitten by their enemies, rhinoceros and elephants are less likely to get serious injury.

 

• The bodies of crocodile and pangolins are covered with dry, hard scales. The scales protect the animals from their enemies.

•  Male goats, male deer, bulls and rhinoceros use their horns to protect themselves from their enemies. They can use their horns to attactor injure their enemies.

                                                                    bull

                                                                   Male deer

                                                                Male goat

                                                              Rhinoceros               

•  Porcupines, porcupine fish, and starfish have spines on the surface of their body. The spines can injure enemies that go near or attack these animals.

( a ) Porcupines raise their long, stiff spines as a warning when their enemies go near them.

( b ) A porcupine fish can inflate its body by drinking a lot of water. This raises the sharp spines on the fish’s body. The spines help to keep the fish’s enemies away.

•  Eagles, tigers, lions and cats have sharp claws. These animals can use their claws to protect themselves and their young from their enemies.

 

•  Some animals have body shapes or colours that match their surroundings. This makes it easier for these animals to hide from their enemies.
  ( a ) Stick insects have a long, thin body that looks like a stick or twig. Their body colour is also similar to the colour of twigs.
  
  
  
  

( b ) Leaf insects have green body parts that look like leaves.

( c ) Zebras have black and white stripes on their bodies. This makes it more difficult for their enemies to detect them from a distance.

•    Centipedes, cobras, wasps and scorpions can defend themselves from their enemies using their poison. 
  ( a ) Centipedes and cobras can bite their enemies to weaken or kill them.
  ( b ) Wasps and scorpions can sting their enemies to weaken or kill them.
  
  
  
                                                              Scorpion
  
  
  
                                                                Cobras
  
  
  
                                                                 Wasps
                                                               
  
  
                                                         Centipedes
  
  
  •  Some animals have very good eyesight and hearing that help them detect their enemies early.
  
  
  ( a ) Eagles have good eyesight
  ( b ) Rabbits have good hearing