The ostrich has a very odd defense mechanism. When faced with danger, the ostrich flops down and stretches its neck flat along the ground. Since the head and neck are lightly colored, they blend into the sandy soil. From a distance, only the ostrich’s body can be seen.

This would make it the only living bird known to prey on humans, although other birds such as ostriches and cassowaries have killed humans in self-defense and a lammergeier might have killed Aeschylus by accident.

When attacking a person, ostriches kick with their powerful feet, armed with long claws, which are capable of disemboweling or killing a person with a single blow [1].

Ostriches, emus, cassowaries, rheas, and kiwis can’t fly. Unlike most birds, their flat breastbones lack the keel that anchors the strong pectoral muscles required for flight.

Part of the The Butterfly Conservatory exhibition. Some butterflies protect themselves through camouflage—by folding up their wings, they reveal the undersides and blend in with their surroundings. Through this strategy, known as crypsis, they become nearly invisible to predators.

However, it has been recently discovered that Viceroys are, in fact, toxic as well, having evolved a different kind of toxin than Monarchs. So this is actually called Müllerian co-mimicry and not the Batesian mimicry as previously thought.

Insect Mimicry & Camouflage

• Viceroy. Other insects are more intricately disguised and resemble other species.
• Robber fly. Some insects take mimicry to extreme levels by resembling things so obscure they’re likely missed by other organisms.
• Giant swallowtail caterpillar.
• Looper moth caterpillar.