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Anti-predator adaptations are mechanisms developed through evolution that assist prey organisms in their constant struggle against predators. Throughout the animal kingdom, adaptations have evolved for every stage of this struggle, namely by avoiding detection, warding off attack, fighting back, or escaping when caught.
Aposematism is the advertising by an animal, whether terrestrial or marine, to potential predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. [1] This unprofitability may consist of any defenses which make the prey difficult to kill and eat, such as toxicity, venom , foul taste or smell, sharp spines, or aggressive nature.
Since leaf beetles produce high concentrations of 3-NPA esters, a powerful chemical defense against a wide range of different predators is obvious. The larvae of Chrysomelina leaf beetles developed a second defensive strategy that is based on the excretion of droplets via pairs of defensive glands at the back of the insects.
Turkey vultures will vomit to dispel any disturbing animal. They can propel their vomit up to 10 feet (3.0 m). [4] The European roller, a much smaller bird found in parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, uses vomit in a different way. A baby European roller will vomit a foul-smelling orange liquid onto itself to turn away a predator.
Predator satiation has evolved as a reproductive pattern in periodical cicadas of the genus Magicicada. [1]Predator satiation (less commonly called predator saturation) is an anti-predator adaptation in which prey briefly occur at high population densities, reducing the probability of an individual organism being eaten. [2]
Note: Some topics in this category are adaptations of both predators and prey (e.g. crypsis), so also appear in the parent category predation Subcategories This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total.
A cow/calf winter herd is a herd that consists only of female elk and their young. In a normal winter, defined as one where there is a decent amount of snow fall, one study found that when the groups of cows and calves were safe from predation by wolves, about 75.6-83.0% of their diet was made up of graze whereas when wolves were present this number dropped to 61.6-69.4%. [3]
Most projectiles used by terrestrial animals are liquids. Among invertebrates there are a number of examples. Velvet worms can squirt out a slimy adhesive fluid from glands on the sides of their head, and use it to trap their prey. The spitting spiders Scytodes can spit a venomous sticky fluid that traps its victims and also poisons them. [1]