Defense Strategies

Mimicry - The scarlet kingsnake copies the coral snake's stripe pattern. Both species live side by side in much of Southeastern North America. The King Snake uses mimicry to trick predators, such as red-tailed hawks. The coral snake disappeared from the area in the 1960s, so it is like the scarlet kingsnake is mimicking a ghost.

• The scarlet kingsnake copies the coral snake's stripe pattern. Both species live side by side in much of southeastern North America. The King Snake uses mimicry to trick predators, such as red-tailed hawks. The coral snake disappeared from the area in the 1960s, so it is like the scarlet King snake is chasing a ghost.
• The coral snake disappeared from the area in the 1960s, so it is like the scarlet King snake is chasing a ghost.

Protective Coverings - The Texas horned lizard uses its exoskeleton as a protective armor. It's exoskeleton is armed with spikes, so most predatory species prefer to avoid them. Their spikes also make it easier to get water.

• The Texas horned lizard uses its exoskeleton as a protective armor. It's exoskeleton is armed with spikes, so most predatory species prefer to avoid them. Their spikes also make it easier to get water.

False Coloring - You have giant eyes! That's what a hungry bird thinks when a silk moth opens its wings. The moth's false eyespots look like the eyes of an owl and can frighten an attacker away.

• You have giant eyes! That's what a hungry bird thinks when a silk moth opens its wings. The moth's false eyespots look like the eyes of an owl and can frighten an attacker away.

Predator Camouflage - A leopard's spots offer excellent camouflage as they move about their range, seldom staying in the same area for more than a few days. Males tend to have larger ranges than females and mark it by urinating and leaving claw marks. Their speed and agile jumping ability makes it almost impossible for its prey to escape.

• A leopard's spots offer excellent camouflage as they move about their range, seldom staying in the same area for more than a few days. Males tend to have larger ranges than females and mark it by urinating and leaving claw marks. Their speed and agile jumping ability makes it almost impossible for its prey to escape.

Warning Color - The Pfeiffer's flamboyant cuttlefish, is a species of cuttlefish occurring in tropical Indi-Pacific waters off northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Victoria, Australia, discovered that this unique species of cuttlefish is poisonous.

• The Pfeiffer's flamboyant cuttlefish is a species of cuttlefish occurring in tropical Indi-Pacific waters off Northern Australia, southern New Guinea, as well as numerous islands of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Victoria, Australia, discovered that this unique species of cuttlefish is poisonous.

Prey Camouflage - One of several major threats for Arctic seals is predation from species such as polar bears, orcas and sharks. Certain seals have their own adaptations to avoid predation, for instance baby harp seals have white coats to blend in with the snow.

• One of several major threats for Arctic seals is predation from species such as polar bears, orcas and sharks. Certain seals have their own adaptations to avoid predation, for instance baby harp seals have white coats to blend in with the snow and male hooded seals have inflatable sacs on their heads they can use to startle potential predators.