ENVIRONMENT
042 HowIt Works http://www.howitworksda
T
r y ingtosur v iveinthew ildcanbea tough
game.A nimalsdon’talwaysknowwhen
dangermayleapoutatthemfromthe
forestorfromtheair,sohav inga naturalsuitof
armourcancomeinhandy.
Onecollectionofanimalsarewell-know nfor
theirarmouredappearance.Arthropods,
six-leggedinvertebratesincludinginsects,crabs
andscorpions,strutaroundina hardenedsuit
calledanexoskeletonforprotection.Madefrom
a toughchitin-proteinmaterial– orcalcium
carbonateif you’rea crustacean– thisall-
encompassingarmourdoesnotexpandasthe
animalw ithinit grows,soa newsuitneedstobe
fashionedever ytimeitsarmourbecomestoo
tighta fit.Replacedina processknow nas
moulting,whenananimalsuchasa crabhas
outgrow nitsexoskeletonit w illabsorbsome
calciumcarbonatefromtheoldshelltoforma
newsoftonebeneath.A fterreleasinganen zy me
todetachitsoldsuit,thefreshlydressedcrab
w illbreakawayandwaitforitsnewshellto
harden,hopingthatpredatorsdon’tspotit in
themeantime.
Hav inga fortifiednaturalsuitisn’texclusiveto
thearthropodworld,extendingtoreptilessuch
ascrocodiles,tortoises,fishspeciessuchasthe
alligatorgarandalsomanymammals.
Oneofthemosticonicarmouredmammalsis
thearmadillo.Coveringthemajorit yofthissmall
creaturearearound2,000tinyscales,alsocalled
scutes,thathaveeruptedfromtheirskintoform
a shell-likeexterior.Know nasthecarapace,a
termalsoattributedtotheshellsofturtles,this
toughexteriorismadeupoftherobustprotein
keratin.However,thissuitofarmourisnotWordsbyScottDutfielddesigned as a rigid barrier for physical
protection, but has evolved in such a way that
the armadillo can curl up to form a protective
ball. Grow ing in three distinct sections, the
scapular shield at the front and pelv ic shield at
the rear sandw ich rows of sliding armour in the
middle. This telescopic design, similar to that of
woodlice, gives the armadillo its abilit y to curl
up. Not all armadillo species can form a complete
spherical shield. Seven-banded armadillo, for
example, lack the space beneath their shell to
tuck all their limbs and head w ithin. The
three-banded armadillo, on the other hand, has
a scaly suit that transforms it into a biological
ball thanks to some extra shell room and
shielding on its head and tail.
A rmadillos aren’t alone in their preference to
curl up into a protective ball; pangolins also
form a scaly sphere for safet y. Found across Asia
and parts of A frica, pangolins defend themselves
from large carnivores, such as lions and tigers,
w ith a coat of armour that covers almost their
entire body. Made from the same material as an
armadillo’s, these keratin scales not only act as a
hard defense, but are also designed to redirect
any fractures from reaching the soft body below.
Due to the humid env ironment these animals
favour, the keratin armour remains hydrated
and tough, whereas in a drier climate their
scales would be more brittle and susceptible to
cracks. A lthough pangolins might be shielded
from other animals, humans pose the biggest
threat to their sur v ival. Believed to be the most
trafficked animal in the world, more than a
million have been taken from the w ild and sold
for their scales and meat since 2000.Discover how these thick-skinned species protect themselves in the wild
The thick, segmented skin of
the Indian rhinoceros appears
as several pieces of rigid
armour, but is flexible enough
to allow movement