Ivy's+Report

Do you have any defenses to get away from a stranger? The boa constrictor, puffer fish, poison dart frog, poison ivy plant, thorny devil, and aardvark have many ways to keep themselves away from animals. In this report, you will read about them.


 * __Boa Constrictors __**

Boa Constrictors got their name by wrapping their bodies around their prey, and constricting. They hide and then use their lingering, forked tongue to smell other animals. They position their bodies tighter until the prey can no longer breathe. Therefore the animal is suffering death.


 * __The Puffer Fish __**

The Puffer Fish is a very unusual sea creature. It can scare predators by opening its mouth and gulping water. It gets larger and larger while it’s stretching. The skin is flexible. This is why it can puff out. When it is puffed out; it’s like a rigid ball. Shortly, the Puffer Fish is 100 times its regular size. Spines come out from most Puffer Fish when they puff up. Now the Puffer Fish is as big as it can get. It is big and frightening. By now, the predator may stop chasing the Spiky Puffer Fish. But if it doesn’t, the puffer can also use its poison from their bodies to kill the predator. Or it can use its heavy crushing plates capable of pinching a human’s finger.


 * __Poison Dart Frog __**

The Poison Dart Frog is a frog you definitely want to stay away from! Its bright colors warn predators to stay away. The Indians use its poison to put on the front of their darts to kill other animals. If the animal still chooses to eat the Poison Dart Frog; it would then trap the poison in, making the animal die. A speck of its poison smaller than a grain of salt is enough to kill a human.


 * __Poison Ivy __**

Poison Ivy is a plant that contains poison in its leaves. The poison oil is called Urushiol Oil. Urushiol Oil is a sticky, sappy substance that causes a rash. The Urushiol Oil is active for 1-5 years. Therefore if there was a fence, and the plant grew on it, and you ripped it out, the oil would still give you a rash until 5 years. The oils keep animals from eating it. The oil will irritate your skin giving you blisters, and red, itchy skin.


 * __Thorny Devil __**

Thorny Devils defend themselves four different ways. First, they tuck their head down between front legs to look like they have a false head. It is actually the back of their neck that looks like their head. It is almost impossible for them to be swallowed. 2nd, they can also change color rapidly. They have been seen usually, a pale red or yellow, but when startled or cold, they are dark olive drab. Then they have thorns all over their heads, legs, tails, and body. Last, they can also suck up air similar to a Puffer Fish.


 * __Aardvark __**

The aardvark is a creature you can’t have as a pet! If attacked, it rolls on its back and uses it’s sharp, spoon shaped claws to make a deep hole quickly. It has four feet in the front, and four in the back. If the Aardvark was under attack it could use its excellent smelling and hearing to fight back.

After learning about these animals, I have one important question.

Would you like to get one of these for a pet? They wouldn’t be at __any__ local pet stores!