Animal 'Defense Mechanisms' That Are Freaking People Out
Some animals should only be admired in National Geographic from the comfort of your own couch. There are the tiny little insects that can bring a predator twice its size down; then there are furry mammals that can bite through human flesh like we're plush toys. Whatever the case, when it comes to these "harmless" animals, you can look, but you can't touch them — they do serious damage to any stalkers!
50. Mute Swan
These delicate and gracious-looking birds are anything but! The Department of Natural Resources logs several swan attacks every year because the birds will pursue anything that steps near a nest. Swans are capable of clearing humans out of coves and shore areas.
49. Japanese Honeybee
Smell something burning? It may not be your dinner on the stove. Blame the smell on the Japanese honeybees, who have perfected a deadly technique to subdue hornets: The honeybees completely swarm the predator and start to vibrate, generating temperatures over 115 degrees Fahrenheit — enough to cook the prey.
48. Poison Dart Frogs
No one should be surprised that a creature called the Poison Dart Frog is, well, poisonous. But few people realize that each frog secretes enough poison — which, in the dart frog's case, shuts down nerve impulses and leads to heart failure — to kill 10 men.
47. Mimic Octopus
To protect itself from predators, the mimic octopus can give itself a makeover. By changing camouflaging his colors and contorting his body in various ways, the mimic octopus can re-shape itself into a jellyfish, sea snake, lion fish, shrimp, crab, and a ton of other sea creatures, too.
