Top 5 Most Disgusting Animal Defenses
- 8 years ago
Top 5 Most Disgusting Animal Defenses
5. Skunk
Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. These glands produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as mercaptans, which have a highly offensive smell. The odor of the fluid is strong enough to ward off bears and other potential attackers and can be difficult to remove from clothing. Muscles located next to the scent glands allow them to spray with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 3 m (10 ft)...
4. Blood Squirting Lizard
The blood of horned lizards causes a negative gustatory response when it comes in contact with the oral cavity of canine predators. While previous thought held that compounds were added to the blood from glands in the ocular sinus cavity, more recent research has shown that the chemical compounds that make up the defense are already in the circulating blood. The origin and structure of the chemicals responsible are still unknown. The blood-squirting mechanism increases survival after contact with canine predators.
3. Pygmy Sperm Whale
We don't know much about the Pyfmy Sperm Whale but what we do know about them is probably the nastiest aspect of the animal in general. Since pygmy sperm whales don’t have the size advantage that their cousins do when faced with danger, they had to come up with another defense strategy. When faced with a predator attack from dolphins or sharks, the Pygmy Sperm Whale will secrete an anal syrup into the water. The whale then stirs up the water with its fins to create a giant poo cloud in which it can take cover.
2. Northern Fulmar
The term ‘Fulmar’ actually means “foul gull” and that’s exactly why this bird makes our list. The young chicks of the Northern Fulmar have evolved a unique defense mechanism that turns them into incredibly unsavory morsels. When confronted by anything- whether that be predatory eagles or a poor, unsuspecting passerby – the fulmar chick will projectile vomit all over the intruding creature’s face. The stream of bright orange puke creates a rotten fish smell that is very hard to get rid of...
1. Hagfish
These jawless, spineless denizens of the deep are a throwback to the Paleozoic Era when fish evolved. The hagfish locates and eats dead rotting animals that have sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor. It uses its razor sharp teeth to bite and tear rotting flesh right off the bones. Hagfish have an entirely revolting trick up their sleeves to avoid predators. When disturbed, the hagfish will ooze proteins from slime glands in its skin that interact with the surrounding water to form a thick, slimy outer coating which ultimately expands into a huge mass of slime.
5. Skunk
Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. These glands produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as mercaptans, which have a highly offensive smell. The odor of the fluid is strong enough to ward off bears and other potential attackers and can be difficult to remove from clothing. Muscles located next to the scent glands allow them to spray with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 3 m (10 ft)...
4. Blood Squirting Lizard
The blood of horned lizards causes a negative gustatory response when it comes in contact with the oral cavity of canine predators. While previous thought held that compounds were added to the blood from glands in the ocular sinus cavity, more recent research has shown that the chemical compounds that make up the defense are already in the circulating blood. The origin and structure of the chemicals responsible are still unknown. The blood-squirting mechanism increases survival after contact with canine predators.
3. Pygmy Sperm Whale
We don't know much about the Pyfmy Sperm Whale but what we do know about them is probably the nastiest aspect of the animal in general. Since pygmy sperm whales don’t have the size advantage that their cousins do when faced with danger, they had to come up with another defense strategy. When faced with a predator attack from dolphins or sharks, the Pygmy Sperm Whale will secrete an anal syrup into the water. The whale then stirs up the water with its fins to create a giant poo cloud in which it can take cover.
2. Northern Fulmar
The term ‘Fulmar’ actually means “foul gull” and that’s exactly why this bird makes our list. The young chicks of the Northern Fulmar have evolved a unique defense mechanism that turns them into incredibly unsavory morsels. When confronted by anything- whether that be predatory eagles or a poor, unsuspecting passerby – the fulmar chick will projectile vomit all over the intruding creature’s face. The stream of bright orange puke creates a rotten fish smell that is very hard to get rid of...
1. Hagfish
These jawless, spineless denizens of the deep are a throwback to the Paleozoic Era when fish evolved. The hagfish locates and eats dead rotting animals that have sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor. It uses its razor sharp teeth to bite and tear rotting flesh right off the bones. Hagfish have an entirely revolting trick up their sleeves to avoid predators. When disturbed, the hagfish will ooze proteins from slime glands in its skin that interact with the surrounding water to form a thick, slimy outer coating which ultimately expands into a huge mass of slime.