Rainforest Animals - Protection from Predators

Animals are always in danger of being eaten and have developed many methods of protecting themselves from hungry animals.

• Hiding: Some animals simply hide from predators, concealing themselves in burrows, under rocks or leaves, in tree hollows, or in other niches where they are hard to find.
• Camouflage: Camouflage is another way of hiding, in which the animal blends into its environment. Many animals, like the "walking stick" insect and the Indian Leaf Butterfly (Kallima inachus) are camouflaged so well that they are virtually invisible when they are standing still. Sloths are covered with a greenish layer of algae which camouflages their fur in their arboreal environment. Sloths also move very slowly, making them even harder to spot.
• Scaring predators: Some animals try to convince predators that they are bigger and more fierce than they really are. For example, the larva of the lobster moth (Stauropus fagi) looks like a scorpion, but is in fact completely defenseless. Many butterflies have large "eye" designs on their wings. This makes them look like the head of a very large animal instead of a harmless butterfly, and scares many predators away.
• Warning colors: Poisonous animals openly advertise their defense methods, usually with bright colors and flashy patterns. When a predator eats one member of the group, it will get sick. This memory will stay with the predator, who will avoid that type of animal in the future. This method sacrifices a few individuals in order to protect the entire group. Examples of poisonous animals include the Monarch butterfly and the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly. Other animals (poisonous or not) have come to mimic poisonous butterflies, obtaining the benefits of their poisonous "twins." This is called mimicry.
• Running away: Fast animals can try to run from predators.
• Attacking: Some animals are equipped with sharp teeth, claws and/or horns that can be used to repel predators.