The Pufferfish
The pufferfish defenses are mostly due to its slow speed. As a defense mechanism, pufferfish can inflate very quickly, filling their elastic stomachs with water (or air when outside water), until they are in a circular shape. When inflated, they turn into a practically inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less edible. If a hungry larger fish or sea creature finds it in its smaller state, it will look like the perfect prey. But then, when it inflates, the larger animal might take a second glance and give enough time for the pufferfish to move to a safer place. Pufferfish also produce a neurotoxin in their internal organs, making them a deadly meal for most predators including humans. The pufferfish poison is called tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is made by a certain bacteria that pufferfish get from food in the wild, which means that, in captivity, they do not produce tetrodotoxin unless in contact with the bacteria. It is estimated that a pufferfish has enough poison to kill around 30 humans, and there is no known antidote. Some also believe that they have enough poison to kill a dozen elephants. The eyes and organs are very toxic, but the meat is still a delicacy in Japan and Korea. It is generally believed that it is the second-most poisonous vertebrate in the world, after the golden poisonous frog.
A pufferfish is a carnivore, which means it eats meat. There are more than 120 species of pufferfish around the world, and most are found in tropical and subtropical waters. Some have weird markings and catchy colours to show other animals that they're toxic, while others are neutral coloured to camouflage with their environment.
Monarchs
The monarch's defense mechanism is that it can fly away, and it also tastes very bad. The reason that it tastes so bad is because it eats milkweed. Milkweed is a very bitter plant, and even poisonous to some animals. Humans can also get sick with milkweed. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed. As the caterpillars eat the milkweed, they ingest chemicals called cardiac glycosides. Birds and other animals as well eat the caterpillars (or even the milkweed), and get sick and vomit. Since they always get sick, they have learnt to not eat them, or the caterpillars. There are still some exceptions. In New Zealand, the Shining cuckoo can eat monarchs. In North America, some animals have learnt what part of the monarch has the least poison, so they eat that. Not all butterflies have the same amount of poison in their bodies. Viceroy butterflies mimic the appearance of monarch butterflies, but they're not poisonous. A monarch caterpillar can grow as much as 2700 times its original size in only two weeks. The caterpillar eats a lot, capable of eating an entire milkweed leaf in less than five minutes.
Sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, like starfish and sea urchins. There are 1250 known species, and most of them look like soft-boiled sea cucumbers, and they all live in the ocean. They come in varied colours, but most are a bright orange, reddish-brown, or brownish-orange. They feed on tiny particles such as algae, mini aquatic animals, or even waste materials. They break their food down into even smaller particles, and their waste becomes food for bacteria. Therefore, the sea cucumber food gets recycled back into their ecosystems, similar to what worms do. For sea cucumbers, fighting quite literally, takes guts. As a defensive mechanism, sea cucumbers shoot their internal organs out of their anus. The guts are sticky, and in some cases, even toxic. The missing body parts regenerate very quickly. If the toxin comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause blindness. After you touch them, it is a good idea to wash your hands, as the toxin may still be on your skin. In some countries, sea cucumbers are actually a delicacy, and some people consider them one of the best proteins in the world. Sea cucumbers do not have a brain. They move very slowly, using their sucker-like feet to move. They can live for up to 5-10 years.
Conclusion:
The animal that interested me the most is the sea cucumber. If I would be a creator of animals, I would never have thought of making an animal with a defense mechanism as shooting out guts. It is also amazing because it looks like an easy meal, but in reality its not.
Sources:
"Puffer Fish - Info and Games." Puffer Fish - Info and Games. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.
"Pufferfish, Pufferfish Pictures, Pufferfish Facts - National Geographic."National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014.
"Butterfly Defence Mechanisms." Science Learning Hub RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014.
"Defense Mechanism Archives - Animal Facts for Kids | Wild Facts."Animal Facts for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.
"Sea Cucumbers, Sea Cucumber Pictures, Sea Cucumber Facts - National Geographic."
The pufferfish defenses are mostly due to its slow speed. As a defense mechanism, pufferfish can inflate very quickly, filling their elastic stomachs with water (or air when outside water), until they are in a circular shape. When inflated, they turn into a practically inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less edible. If a hungry larger fish or sea creature finds it in its smaller state, it will look like the perfect prey. But then, when it inflates, the larger animal might take a second glance and give enough time for the pufferfish to move to a safer place. Pufferfish also produce a neurotoxin in their internal organs, making them a deadly meal for most predators including humans. The pufferfish poison is called tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is made by a certain bacteria that pufferfish get from food in the wild, which means that, in captivity, they do not produce tetrodotoxin unless in contact with the bacteria. It is estimated that a pufferfish has enough poison to kill around 30 humans, and there is no known antidote. Some also believe that they have enough poison to kill a dozen elephants. The eyes and organs are very toxic, but the meat is still a delicacy in Japan and Korea. It is generally believed that it is the second-most poisonous vertebrate in the world, after the golden poisonous frog.
A pufferfish is a carnivore, which means it eats meat. There are more than 120 species of pufferfish around the world, and most are found in tropical and subtropical waters. Some have weird markings and catchy colours to show other animals that they're toxic, while others are neutral coloured to camouflage with their environment.
Monarchs
The monarch's defense mechanism is that it can fly away, and it also tastes very bad. The reason that it tastes so bad is because it eats milkweed. Milkweed is a very bitter plant, and even poisonous to some animals. Humans can also get sick with milkweed. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed. As the caterpillars eat the milkweed, they ingest chemicals called cardiac glycosides. Birds and other animals as well eat the caterpillars (or even the milkweed), and get sick and vomit. Since they always get sick, they have learnt to not eat them, or the caterpillars. There are still some exceptions. In New Zealand, the Shining cuckoo can eat monarchs. In North America, some animals have learnt what part of the monarch has the least poison, so they eat that. Not all butterflies have the same amount of poison in their bodies. Viceroy butterflies mimic the appearance of monarch butterflies, but they're not poisonous. A monarch caterpillar can grow as much as 2700 times its original size in only two weeks. The caterpillar eats a lot, capable of eating an entire milkweed leaf in less than five minutes.
Sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, like starfish and sea urchins. There are 1250 known species, and most of them look like soft-boiled sea cucumbers, and they all live in the ocean. They come in varied colours, but most are a bright orange, reddish-brown, or brownish-orange. They feed on tiny particles such as algae, mini aquatic animals, or even waste materials. They break their food down into even smaller particles, and their waste becomes food for bacteria. Therefore, the sea cucumber food gets recycled back into their ecosystems, similar to what worms do. For sea cucumbers, fighting quite literally, takes guts. As a defensive mechanism, sea cucumbers shoot their internal organs out of their anus. The guts are sticky, and in some cases, even toxic. The missing body parts regenerate very quickly. If the toxin comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause blindness. After you touch them, it is a good idea to wash your hands, as the toxin may still be on your skin. In some countries, sea cucumbers are actually a delicacy, and some people consider them one of the best proteins in the world. Sea cucumbers do not have a brain. They move very slowly, using their sucker-like feet to move. They can live for up to 5-10 years.
Conclusion:
The animal that interested me the most is the sea cucumber. If I would be a creator of animals, I would never have thought of making an animal with a defense mechanism as shooting out guts. It is also amazing because it looks like an easy meal, but in reality its not.
Sources:
"Puffer Fish - Info and Games." Puffer Fish - Info and Games. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.
"Pufferfish, Pufferfish Pictures, Pufferfish Facts - National Geographic."National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014.
"Butterfly Defence Mechanisms." Science Learning Hub RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014.
"Defense Mechanism Archives - Animal Facts for Kids | Wild Facts."Animal Facts for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.
"Sea Cucumbers, Sea Cucumber Pictures, Sea Cucumber Facts - National Geographic."