Animals are amazing creatures, and each species has its own unique features that set it apart from the rest. From the Babirusa deer with its spiral-shaped upper canines to the African social spider that sacrifices itself for its young, animals have some incredible adaptations that can be both beneficial and dangerous. Here, we take a look at some of the most fascinating and deadly animal features.
Babirusa Deer
The Babirusa deer is a species of wild pig found in Indonesia and the Philippines. It is easily recognizable by its long, curved tusks, which can grow up to 17 inches in length.
These tusks are actually the animal’s upper canines, which grow downwards in a spiral shape and continue to grow until they penetrate the skin from the top of the snout. Locals believe that these tusks are there to protect the deer’s eyes during the mating season when they battle it out with other babirusas.
Unfortunately, these tusks can eventually kill the animal by piercing through its skull and into its brain.
The story of a stag with proud antlers and thin legs is a popular one, and it turns out that this story is based in reality. Deer have magnificent antlers, which are both a defense mechanism and a vulnerability.
The larger the antlers get, the heavier they become for the deer to carry, which can cause disorientation and can lead to the deer getting stuck in trees or with other antlers. Unless someone intervenes, the deer can die from dehydration or be killed by a predator. That’s why deer shed their antlers every once in a while.
Horses and Donkeys
Horses and donkeys have hooves, which are often groomed by their owners. But did you know that these hooves are basically like huge toenails? They grow throughout the lives of horses and donkeys, just like nails do. If they are not groomed, the hooves can interfere with the animals’ walking and can give them bad bones and joints, seriously hurting their legs. They can also lose balance and fall. In the wild, these animals can find rough, rocky surfaces to walk on in order to maintain their fancy pedicure.
Honeybees
Honeybees are some of the most hard-working and devoted insects. They roam all day from flower to flower