ANIMAL CURIOSITIES

Smell as a defensive tool: seven animals that exploit it best in the world

Animals, thanks to evolution, have developed many different techniques to survive. First of all to obtain food, then to protect themselves from bad weather, and finally also to defend themselves from predators.

Some animals have sharp teeth, others are very large and powerful. Still others have decided to stink, thus not allowing other animals to approach them. The real power in fact is the ability to release horrible, nauseating smells on command, whenever they feel threatened.

On Earth, many animals, large and small, adopt this technique to survive. Let's now take a look at the world's smelliest in this veritable tour of bad smells.

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Smell as a defensive tool: seven animals that exploit it best in the world
Animals, thanks to evolution, have developed many different techniques to survive. First of all to obtain food, then to protect themselves from bad weather, and finally also to defend themselves from predators. Some animals have sharp teeth, others are very large and powerful. Still others have decided to stink, thus not allowing other animals to approach them. The real power in fact is the ability to release horrible, nauseating smells on command, whenever they feel threatened. On Earth, many animals, large and small, adopt this technique to survive. Let's now take a look at the world's smelliest in this veritable tour of bad smells.
By Dan & Lin Dzurisin - originally posted to Flickr as Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) DSC_003
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Anyone who has experienced being sprayed by a skunk knows what we are talking about. This slow and clumsy animal has developed the ability to spray a mixture of sulphuric thiols, the substances found in raw onions that make people cry. In addition to stinking, this spray (which can reach up to two metres) causes tearing, temporary blindness and even nausea, giving the animal time to escape.
By Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15010945
Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
The birds must think not only of their own survival, but also of the protection of the nest and eggs. For this second purpose, the Anas clypeat covers the nest and eggs with a thin layer of faeces, making it less attractive to potential predators.
Di Daniele1357 - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=274519
Fulmaro (Fulmarus glacialis)
This albatross-like seabird is truly disgusting. Feeding on everything it finds (from rubbish to decomposed fish) it has many weapons at its disposal to defend itself. If these birds feel threatened, they shoot the contents of their own semi-digested stomach at the predator. Adults, on the other hand, use a kind of fetid oil, which is always present in the stomach.
By Charles J. Sharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography.co.uk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:
Green wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus)
This typical African bird adopts a tactic similar to that of the skunk, i.e. pointing its butt at the predator and discharging its stinking jet at him. One of the substances this bird releases is dimethyl sulphide, a substance that gives rotten eggs their characteristic stench. Younger ones may also fling a good dose of liquid faeces.
Daniel Jolivet - Flickr.com
Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epos)
The Eurasian hoopoe adopts a tactic very similar to the woodland green hoopoe, flinging liquid feces up to 60 cm away to ward off predators and danger.
By Thomas Shahan - https://www.flickr.com/photos/49580580@N02/15241792676/, CC BY 2.0, https://commo
Diplopoda - Centipede
Something that many people may not know is that centipedes also use stench as a defensive tool. When they feel threatened, these insects twist on themselves and release a really disgusting smell that makes them inedible. This substance is not only disgusting but also very toxic. Some centipede species can release a substance, hydrogen cyanide, which is capable of killing up to six adult mice.
By Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) - Photograph taken by Patrick Coin, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wik
Bombardier beetle (Brachinus sclopeta)
This insect has a real 'defensive machine' inside it. In fact, thanks to a system of valves, it is able to store certain substances (hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide) in its body, which, in case of danger, it manages to mix together and heat up to 100°C. After that, he fires it intermittently from his abdomen, like a machine gun (this is to avoid overheating). The 'spray', thus diluted, is lethal for insects and could be very painful for humans.
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