LIZARDS SHOOT BLOOD FROM THEIR EYES. Texas horned lizards can shoot blood out of their eyes (up to five feet away) to startle predators. The blood contains chemicals that taste foul to canines like coyotes, helping the lizard escape.
SEA CUCUMBERS EJECT THEIR GUTS. When threatened, sea cucumbers literally vomit their internal organs, sometimes including their intestines, to entangle or distract predators. They can regenerate everything they lose in a matter of weeks.
HAIRY FROGS BREAK THEIR OWN BONES. Also known as the “Wolverine frog,” this species can break bones in its toes, which then pierce through the skin to form claws. Scientists believe this painful move is used as a last-ditch defense when attacked.
BOMBARDIER BEETLES SPRAY CHEMICALS. These beetles mix chemicals inside their abdomens to create a scalding hot chemical spray that reaches nearly 212°. They can aim this explosive burst in almost any direction to fend off predators.
OPOSSUMS ARE MASTERS OF PLAYING DEAD. Opossums don’t just faint when threatened. They go into a full, involuntary catatonic state, complete with tongue lolling, drooling, and a corpse-like stench. The smell comes from a gland that produces a foul fluid to deter would-be predators.
