{"id":7250,"date":"2025-09-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/wildwire\/?p=7250"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:22:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T13:22:53","slug":"top-ten-strangest-animal-survival-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/top-10\/top-ten-strangest-animal-survival-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten Strangest Animal Survival Strategies!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever wonder how small creatures like beetles and ants can stand up to bigger species? How about frogs and fish? Well take a look at this list of the top ten strangest animal survival strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1 Porcupinefish (<em>from the family Diodontidae<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail wp-image-7223\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"236\" height=\"160\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/puffer_fish-236x160.jpg\" alt=\"Puffer fish\" class=\"wp-image-7223\" style=\"width:217px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pufferfish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-10904\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inflated_puffer_fish.jpg\" alt=\"pufferfish\" class=\"wp-image-10904\" style=\"width:214px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inflated_puffer_fish.jpg 724w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inflated_puffer_fish-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inflated_puffer_fish-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/inflated_puffer_fish-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pufferfish inflated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Predators will have to think twice before messing with this big spiky fish. When the Porcupine or Pufferfish is feeling threatened, it can inflate its body using air and water, extending its sharp points out up to 5 cm (2\u2019\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7221\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra.jpg\" alt=\"hairy frog\" class=\"wp-image-7221\" style=\"width:303px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/hairy_frog_-gustavocarra-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hairy frog. Photo Credit: Gustavocarra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 Hairy Frog (<em>Trichobatrachus robustus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch out this animal uses a wolverine style attack! They will poke sharp bones through the skin on their toes and use their spiky feet to keep predators away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7222\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"538\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft.jpg\" alt=\"platypus\" class=\"wp-image-7222\" style=\"width:275px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft-696x468.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft-625x420.jpg 625w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/platypus_stefan_-kraft-236x160.jpg 236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Platypus. Photo Credit: Stefan Kraft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3 Platypus (<em>Ornithorhynchus anatinus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The platypus is high-tech using electro-reception to find its prey. It swims with its head swinging side-to-side in order to sense any changes in the electric field to see where its food is hiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7219\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/carpenter_ant_photo_credit_richard_bartz.jpg\" alt=\"carpenter ant\" class=\"wp-image-7219\" style=\"width:261px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/carpenter_ant_photo_credit_richard_bartz.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/carpenter_ant_photo_credit_richard_bartz-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carpenter ant. Photo Credit: Richard Bartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4 Carpenter Ant (<em>Camponotus saundersi<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the worker ant is under attack and knows it\u2019s going to lose, it explodes! It sucks in the walls of its abdomen so fast and with so much force that the walls burst open spilling out toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7225\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley.jpg\" alt=\"wood frog\" class=\"wp-image-7225\" style=\"width:210px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/wood_frog_ontley-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wood frog. Photo Credit: Ontley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">#5 Wood Frog (<em>Rana Sylvatica<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Meet the incredible self-freezing frog! In winter 35-45% of the frog\u2019s body may freeze and turn to ice. The Wood frog pulls off this trick by storing glucose in its liver, which gets released while its&nbsp; \u2018playing dead\u2019. The glucose acts as antifreeze, working to keep this little guy alive while staying still. As the temperature drops the Wood frog will stop moving and breathing, its blood stops flowing and even its heart stops! Once things warm up a bit the frog comes back to life (so-to-speak) and returns to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7217\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"366\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bombardier_beetle_photo_credit_patrich_coin.jpg\" alt=\"bombardier beetle\" class=\"wp-image-7217\" style=\"width:263px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bombardier_beetle_photo_credit_patrich_coin.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bombardier_beetle_photo_credit_patrich_coin-100x70.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/bombardier_beetle_photo_credit_patrich_coin-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bombardier beetle. Photo Credit Patrich Coin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u00a0#6 Bombardier Beetle (<em>Stenaptinus insignis<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This beetle knows just how to keep enemies away hot liquid eek! The beetle collects chemicals in a special chamber then when it\u2019s under attack it heats this liquid up and sprays it from the end of its abdomen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7220\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson.jpg\" alt=\"electric el\" class=\"wp-image-7220\" style=\"width:254px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-696x522.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-560x420.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/electric_el_photo_credit_steven_g_johnson-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric eel. Photo Credit: Steven G Johnson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#7 Electric Eel (<em>Electrophorus electricus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The electric eel uses 2 types of electricity; the first kind is for electro location (figuring out what\u2019s in the environment) the other is for keeping predators away. For electro location the eel uses a low voltage discharge (about 10 V and reaching about 25 Hz) but the eel soups-up its discharge to high voltage (about 500 V and reaching several hundred Hz) to keep predators away.<br>&#8220;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7216\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"606\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/archerfish_photo_credit_trisha_hears.jpg\" alt=\"archerfish\" class=\"wp-image-7216\" style=\"width:186px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/archerfish_photo_credit_trisha_hears.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/archerfish_photo_credit_trisha_hears-444x420.jpg 444w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/archerfish_photo_credit_trisha_hears-300x284.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Archerfish. Photo credit: Trisha Hears<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u00a0#8 Archerfish (<em>Toxotes jaculatrix<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This fish loves water fights, which can come in handy when it\u2019s looking for a tasty insect to snack on. The Archerfish shoots down insects by spitting beads of water at them! This fish can spit water with such force that it can knock a bug off of a plant that\u2019s up to 150 cm away.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7215\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"511\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite.jpg\" alt=\"african termite mound\" class=\"wp-image-7215\" style=\"width:278px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite.jpg 685w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-265x198.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-530x396.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/african_termite-563x420.jpg 563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">African Termite Mound<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#9 African Termite (<em>Marcrotermes bellicosus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These termites build amazing homes that help them survive by keeping the temperature inside perfect, even if the world outside is too hot or cold. These mounds are so well designed that we have started to take a closer look at them to try and help us build better homes that don&#8217;t need as much energy to keep them the right temperature. Termite mounds can reach up to 9 meters high, are water resistant and use ventilation ducts too keep them at a constant 30 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-7218\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/cantors_giant_softshell_-turtle_blogue_-dementia.jpg\" alt=\"cantors giant softshell turtle\" class=\"wp-image-7218\" style=\"width:343px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/cantors_giant_softshell_-turtle_blogue_-dementia.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/cantors_giant_softshell_-turtle_blogue_-dementia-420x420.jpg 420w, https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-content\/uploads\/cantors_giant_softshell_-turtle_blogue_-dementia-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cantors Giant Softshell Turtle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#10 Cantor\u2019s Giant Softshell Turtle (<em>Pelochelys cantorii<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike most turtles this endangered species has a soft shell that is flexible. Its shell is made up of bones under its skin that gives it a protective plate. This turtle&#8217;s flat body helps it hide which is key for it to find food because this guy&#8217;s an ambush feeder! This turtle will lay in wait then jump into action with fast movements of its neck and head to grab some of the speediest and most agile prey, like a tasty fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Check out these amazing creatures and the tricks they use to stay alive. From the pufferfish&#8217;s huge spikes to exploding ants and a flattened turtle!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[411,931],"tags":[252,328,109,339],"class_list":{"0":"post-7250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-10","8":"category-all","9":"tag-food","10":"tag-hunting","11":"tag-predator","12":"tag-survival"},"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7250"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":610676,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions\/610676"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}