| Snakes are well known for their poisonous bite, but in fact their venom is designed for catching prey, and not for defending the snake. However, snakes are often victims of chemical defenses, as are birds and mammals. This is because the most common users of chemical defenses are insects. Vast numbers of insects are consumed every day, as they are a major food source for many types of animals, but poisonous chemicals help defend them from hungry birds, frogs, toads, lizards, and even other insects. Frogs are another common user of chemical defenses, and especially well known are the poison arrow frogs of Central America. |
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| Insects have also evolved an impressive number of "mechanical" defenses. Mechanical defenses, which are designed to prevent encounters with predators, include camouflage and mimicry. Camouflage provides an advantage both when trying to avoid predators, and when stalking prey--two situations in which an animal would want to be invisible. Insects are the most well-known group to use camouflage, and since insects live surrounded by plants, they usually evolve plant-like forms as a camouflage. |
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[reptiles] [insects] [amphibians]
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