The eyes of most animals cannot cope with ultraviolet light because it carries enough energy to damage vision. However, living on Arctic frozen wastes that reflect around 90% of the UV light, reindeer have adapted to see it.
Known as a trigonotarbid, this arachnid was one of the first predators on land. Its prey were probably early flightless insects and other invertebrates, which it would run down and jump on.
Known as a trigonotarbid, this arachnid was one of the first predators on land. Its prey were probably early flightless insects and other invertebrates, which it would run down and jump on.
Like many lizards, iguanas can "drop" or autotomize their tails. The detached piece of tail thrashes and wriggles to distract the predator while the iguana runs to safety.
Flashlight fishes are named for their large bioluminescent organs that are located beneath the eyes. The light they produce is used to attract prey, escape from predators, and to communicate!
Flashlight fishes are named for their large bioluminescent organs that are located beneath the eyes. The light they produce is used to attract prey, escape from predators, and to communicate!
Fossil hunters from Europe have discovered one of the largest predators ever to have lived: a whale that could devour other whales, with a mouth 9 ft (2.7 m) long and 7 ft (2.1 m) wide.
The Cyclosa spider uses its dead enemies' bodies to build a big fake spider decoy to sit on. Seriously, the spider uses its victim's insect corpses to construct a larger spider-shaped design to ward off potential predators.
The Cyclosa spider uses its dead enemies' bodies to build a big fake spider decoy to sit on. Seriously, the spider uses its victim's insect corpses to construct a larger spider-shaped design to ward off potential predators.
The Cyclosa spider uses its dead enemies' bodies to build a big fake spider decoy to sit on. Seriously, the spider uses its victim's insect corpses to construct a larger spider-shaped design to ward off potential predators.
Hammerhead sharks are consummate predators with mallet-shaped heads that improve their ability to find prey. Their wide heads house a wide array of specialized sensory organs.
Hammerhead sharks are consummate predators with mallet-shaped heads that improve their ability to find prey. Their wide heads house a wide array of specialized sensory organs.
The viperfish is one of the fiercest predators in the sea, with long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. It lures its prey with lights on its dorsal spine.
The viperfish is one of the fiercest predators in the sea, with long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. It lures its prey with lights on its dorsal spine.
The viperfish is one of the fiercest predators in the sea, with long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. It lures its prey with lights on its dorsal spine.
The viperfish is one of the fiercest predators in the sea, with long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. It lures its prey with lights on its dorsal spine.
Inupiat typically leave some meat specifically for the polar bears. The predators have learned to arrive at North Slope Eskimo communities just before the hunt and whet their appetites by gnawing last year's whale bones.
Inupiat typically leave some meat specifically for the polar bears. The predators have learned to arrive at North Slope Eskimo communities just before the hunt and whet their appetites by gnawing last year's whale bones.
Inupiat typically leave some meat specifically for the polar bears. The predators have learned to arrive at North Slope Eskimo communities just before the hunt and whet their appetites by gnawing last year's whale bones.
These ghostly looking creatures have an unusual defense mechanism called counter-illumination which they use to escape predators that lurk in the depths.