![\"sea](\"http:\/\/www.wild-facts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sea-cucumber.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSea cucumbers, or holothurians, are bottom dwelling animals of the world\u2019s sea floors. They seem harmless enough, but don\u2019t let their sluggishness fool you. Some species of sea cucumbers release a sticky toxin to ward off predators. Sounds scary enough. Not really as there are also species that violently contract their bodies to expel their guts out of their butts! While the predator is distracted by this rather disgusting spectacle, the sea cucumber had already made its escape. In six weeks\u2019 time, those organs are regenerated (and ready for any predator) while the sea cucumber goes about its usual routine like nothing happened.<\/p>\n
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2. Cuttlefish<\/h2>\n
The cuttlefish is a true master of disguise. They can change color \u2013 to blend in, stand out or imitate. They can flash bright colors to discourage predators or easily blend into the background to avoid run-ins with enemies. They also use their color shifting prowess to gain sexual advantage during mating season. This is when a male cuttlefish imitate a female cuttlefish to deceive dominant males and whisk away their mates. An unknowing prey easily falls victim to a camouflaged cuttlefish and its lightning speed tentacles. Now, that\u2019s a real conman, or should we say con-fish?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re a fish, how do you get away from a hungry predator? Well, swim away of course! But not the flying fish. It accelerates to top speed (about 37 mph), jumps out of the water and spreads its large pectoral fins, and glide 700 feet away! A flying fish had been observed to glide above the water for about 45 seconds in Japan!<\/p>\n Talk about a daring escape!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And just when you thought size is everything, meet the pygmy sperm whale. Although females may reach almost four meters in length and males three meters long, the pygmy sperm whale can be considered small when placed alongside other cetaceans. When threatened, the pygmy sperm whale shoots out a reddish brown liquid out of its anus to confuse predators as it makes its escape. This behavior, more akin to those of cephalopods like squids and octopuses, is highly irregular in mammals and has baffled scientists for years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re not into reptiles in the first place, the Texas horned lizard will likely send you packing. At first glance, there seems to be nothing special about it. It is a lizard with horns, hence the name. Surprisingly, it\u2019s not the horns on the top of its head or the spikes along its body that ward off predators. The Texas horned lizard has a very funky defense mechanism \u2013 it squirts blood out of its eyes! Threatening the lizard, it will pressurize its sinus cavities to force blood vessels in their eyes to burst and send out that stream of blood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How would you like to go into a cryogenic state while the hard winter blizzards storm above? Go ask the wood frog, a native inhabitant of the extreme cold environments of Northern Canada and Alaska. During the coldest of winters when temperatures are subzero, the wood frog can go into hibernation with no heart or brain activity, coming back to life when temperatures begin to warm up. The frog\u2019s liver produces high amounts of glucose that act as antifreeze so that organs are ready to come back to life as soon as temperatures allow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How many times have you heard the phrase \u201cplay dead like a possum\u201d? The opossum\u2019s reaction to a threat is to play dead to discourage the predator. However, what\u2019s interesting is that this is actually an involuntary reaction. A scared opossum temporarily goes into a comatose-like state for hours at a time, emits a really bad smelling green liquid and produces drool to convince the predator that it truly is dead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No predator will want to mess with the Malaysian exploding ant. When faced with danger, the Malaysian exploding ant unleashes its lethal weapon \u2013 itself! Armed with poison glands inside its body, the ant will contract its abdomen which causes the glands to burst from the head, sending a stream of corrosive venom right on target.<\/p>\n That brings a whole new meaning to taking one for the team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bombardier beetles pack a nasty piece of defense artillery. A spurt of this red hot fluid from its anus will be more than enough to drive off potential attackers. The exploding jet of fluid can reach boiling temperatures and you surely would not want to be on its receiving end!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n3. Flying Fish<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Pygmy Sperm Whale<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Texas Horned Lizard<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Wood Frog<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Opossum<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n8. Malaysian Exploding Ant<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n9. Bombardier Beetle<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n10. Stick Insect<\/h2>\n