Introduction Animals live in an unsafe world They defend themselves They fight against nature Weather conditions can be harsh Their environments can be harsh They fight against predators Predators are hunters They hunt for prey Prey are animals hunted for food Animals must stop attacks They protect themselves They protect their families They don’t want to be in danger They don’t want to be eaten Some animals defend themselves in extreme ways Their defenses are bigger Their defenses are better They have the most exciting defenses in the animal world 4
Some animals defend themselves against humans
Chapter one Armadillos Armadillos are from South America They can also be found in the southern United States Armadillo is a Spanish word It means man in armor Armadillos shells are like armor Armor is tough bony plates They protect soft muscles and tissues Armadillos shells cover the top of their bodies Top shells are called carapaces They’re strong Dogs sharp teeth can’t cut their shells These shells are their main defense When in danger they hide in their shells They wait Most predators get bored 6
Armadillos undersides have soft skin and fur Most armadillos cannot roll into a ball They have too many plates But three-banded armadillos can They fold their bodies They hide all their body parts 7
