A: Every animal has the ability to protect itself from being
someone's next meal. Each species has evolved with its own set of unique
adaptations, ways of helping them to survive.
BLENDING IN 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.
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!
STAYING OUT OF SITE 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.
ARMED AND DANGEROUS 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 away potential predators.