Naturally armed
Nature equipped many living creatures with added extras to protect themselves from hungry predators. And this armor comes in many styles.
The hedgehog
Nature equipped many living creatures with added extras to protect themselves from hungry predators. And this armor comes in many styles. The hedgehog, for example, sports prickles, about 5,000 of them, which it raises as it curls into a ball when confronted with danger. They fall out after a year, making space for replacements to grow.
The turtle
Like tortoises and terrapins, turtles spend their lives lugging solid shells around with them. Most, but not all, can retreat inside when predators come knocking. But for centuries, the protective casing of some species, most notably the hawksbill turtle, was used to make trinkets and decorative furniture. An international trade ban was enforced in 1973.
The crocodile
Widely regarded as a fierce predator, the crocodile has an exoskeleton of horny scales and underlying bony scutes. Coupled with its long jaw of lethal teeth, this complex but supporting construction makes the croc unlikely prey. But considered sacred in ancient Egypt, its skin was sometimes used as armor on special occassions. A suit in the British Museum dates back to the third century AD.
The pangolin
There are eight species of pangolin, all of which are considered endangered. They are the only known mammal to be covered in large, protective ketatin scales, and are hunted for both their meat and their armor. Ground down, some believe the latter aids lactation and cures cancer. As with the crocodile, their skin has historically also been used to create human armor.
The rhino
Rhinos have been making big headlines in recent years, as they have become the latest casualty of the seemingly boundless illegal wildlife trade. Poached for their horn which is ground down for uses similar to that of pangolin scales, rhinos are majestic creatures with very thick skin that has a definitive armored look.
The armadillo
These prehistoric looking creatures are covered with bony plates pretty much everywhere except their tummies, which are soft and sometimes hairy. Their name is Spanish, and translates to "little armored one". Contrary to popular belief, only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can curl into a tight ball to escape predators.
The scorpion
Despite the fact that they have between six and 12 eyes, scorpions have poor sight. But the predator would need to be even blinder to want to attack these venomous scuttlers. Already equipped with a lethal skin, the scorpion also has an exoskeleton, which acts as a protective casing should the going get tough.
The sturgeon
Regarded as a primitive fish, the sturgeon is partially covered with heavy plates as opposed to the scales which usually coat the bodies of fish. They don't protect them from nets, however, and as a source of caviar, sturgeon are much sought after. In England and Wales, they are considered a royal fish, which means each one caught in those countries is the property of the Crown.