page_title: Defence against predators
hierarchical_section_title: Defence against predators
context_page_description: For most animals, defence against predators is vital. Being eaten is not the only threat to life: parasites and diseases may also be fatal. But animals, especially small animals, are often eaten.
  Since life is about reproduction, anything that keeps a creature alive long enough for it to reproduce will be selected for. The next generation comes from the fertilised eggs of the previous generation.
  Not surprisingly, then, animals have developed a wide range of defences against predation. Some of these defences apply also to plants: herbivory on plants can be very damaging, and reduce a plant's fertility. Many plants have some defence against herbivores.
context_section_description: For most animals, defence against predators is vital. Being eaten is not the only threat to life: parasites and diseases may also be fatal. But animals, especially small animals, are often eaten. 
  Since life is about reproduction, anything that keeps a creature alive long enough for it to reproduce will be selected for. The next generation comes from the fertilised eggs of the previous generation.
  Not surprisingly, then, animals have developed a wide range of defences against predation. Some of these defences apply also to plants: herbivory on plants can be very damaging, and reduce a plant's fertility. Many plants have some defence against herbivores.
caption: The skin of the phantasmal poison frog contains the toxin epibatidine
exif: {"Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL", "Image XResolution": "300/0", "Image YResolution": "300/0", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image ExifOffset": "132", "EXIF ExposureTime": "3/5", "EXIF FNumber": "14/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Aperture Priority", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "100", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2006:03:10 15:23:35", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2006:03:10 15:23:35", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "24149/32768", "EXIF ApertureValue": "97349/32768", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "-2", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, red-eye reduction mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "150", "EXIF ColorSpace": "Uncalibrated", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3456", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2304", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "1728000/437", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "384000/97", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "2", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard"}