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Black-blotched porcupinefish has inflated its body while swimming

Predation defence

Predation defence comes in many forms: physiological, anatomical and behavioural. Physical defences such as spines and armour are obvious adaptations, but other defences can be more subtle and surprising. Whether it's avoiding detection through camouflage and mimicry, chemical defence through being poisonous or exuding irritants, it's all about one thing: avoiding being eaten. Some animals rely on increasing their chances of detecting predators by living in groups and using alarm calls to warn each other of danger.

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Animals with this behaviour

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Cartilaginous fish

Ray-finned fishes

Cephalopods

Insects

Arachnids

Crabs, shrimp and krill

Snails and slugs

Starfish

Sea urchins

Jellyfish

About

Antipredator adaptations are evolutionary adaptations developed over time, which assist prey organisms in their constant struggle against their predators.

The act of a predator acquiring a food source can be divided into four stages: detection, attack, capture and consumption. At every stage in this predatory sequence, adaptations that maximize the prey's chance of survival have evolved. This, in turn, has driven adaptation in their predators. This kind of interaction over long periods is known as co-evolution.

Many predatory animals are themselves preyed upon. To defend themselves, predatory animals often use their methods of attacking prey to inflict or threaten grievous injury to their own predators. For example, the electric eel uses the same electrical currents to kill prey, and to defend itself against predators (such as anacondas, caimans, jaguars, egrets, cougars) which prey on fish of similar size to the eels.

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Behaviours

Other Survival strategy behaviours

BBC News about Predation defence

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