Animals can also use various body parts as methods of defense. Some animals use their teeth and claws to defend themselves. They might bite or claw other animals to protect themselves. Some animals have horns to protect themselves and their young. For example, goats ram other animals to chase them away. Tails can be used for defense. Some animals have tails that are big and strong so they can knock out an animal that is trying to harm them or their young. Other animals have tails that are long and skinny so they can use them like whips. Some animals, like the leopard gecko, have tails that can actually come off so they can escape from predators! The tails grows back in about 4 to 6 weeks. Another method of defense using body parts is using a shell like a turtle or a tortoise. Shells are hard so an animal can not break them. A turtle's shell is hinged. The turtle can pull it's legs and head inside the shell and close up the shell tightly so nothing can get inside! A tortoise's shell is not hinged so it's legs are rough so when it pulls them inside the shell it's more protected.
Another method of defense used by some animals is poison.
Usually animals that have poison produce it from their mouth and convert
it by their teeth or fangs. Animals that have venom or poison don't use
it that much to defend themselves. They can only make so much at a time
so the animals would want to save the venom to get food. So an animal with
venom only use it if it's completely necessary.