Each species has evolved with its own set of unique adaptations, ways of
helping them to survive. Every animal has the ability to protect itself from
being someone's next meal. The following are just a few of these unique and
often bizarre adaptations.
CAMOUFLAGE
The
coloring of some animals acts as protection from their predators. Insects play
some of the best hide-and-go-seek in the forest. The "walking
stick" is one such insect; it blends in so well with the palm tree it
calls its home that no one would notice it unless it moved. Some butterflies,
when they close their wings, look exactly like leaves. Camouflage also works in
reverse, helping predators, such as boa constrictors, sneak up
on unsuspecting animals and surprise them.
SLOW AS A SNAIL
The three-toed sloth is born with brown fur, but you would
never know this by looking at it. The green algae that makes its home in the
sloth's fur helps it to blend in with the tops of the trees, the canopy, where
it makes its home. But green algae isn't the only thing living in a sloth's fur;
it is literally "bugged" with a variety of insects. 978 beetles were once found
living on one sloth!
The sloth has other clever adaptations. Famous for its snail-like pace; it is
one of the slowest-moving animals on earth. (It can even take up to a month to
digest its food!) Although its tasty meat would make a good meal for jaguars and
other predators, most do not notice the sloth as it hangs quietly in the trees,
high up in the canopy.
DEADLY CREATURES Other animals want to announce their presence to the whole
forest. Armed with dangerous poisons used in life-threatening situations, their
bright colors warn predators to stay away.
The coral snake of the Amazon, with its brilliant red,
yellow, and black coloring, is recognized as one of the most beautiful snakes in
the world, But don't admire its beauty too long; its deadly poison can kill
within seconds
The poison arrow frog also stands out with its brightly
colored skin. Its skin produces some of the strongest natural poison in the
world, which Indigenous people often use for hunting purposes.
Another animal with no friends is the hoatzin. Often called
the stinkbird, it produces a horrible smell to scare
