Animal Defense Mechanisms

Leopard camouflaged in the grass. © USFWS/Gary Stolz

Defense mechanisms are very important to all animal life. Animals must eat to survive. With predators always on the lookout for a meal, prey must constantly avoid being eaten. Any adaptation the prey uses adds to the chances of survival for the species. Some adaptations are defense mechanisms which can give the prey an advantage against enemies.

There are several ways animals avoid falling prey to a predator. One way is very direct and comes naturally. Imagine you are a rabbit and you have just noticed that leopard in the picture to the right camouflaged in the grass. What would be your initial response? Right, you'd run.

Animals can use speed as a very effective means of escaping predators. Remember, you can't eat what you can't catch! To find information on other types of defense mechanisms see, Defense Mechanisms.