by Dr. Fernando Riera S.
In the animal kingdom, we also find “spheres.”
Certain animals have the habilty of taking this form, especially as a way to protect themselves from possible predators’ attacks.
Some species of armadillo roll up themselves into an impenetrable sphere in order to protect their head and limbs, exposing only their armored skin.
In a similar category, we can find the porcupine, this creature does not have armored skin like the armadillo; however, it is covered with a shield of spines, very effective as a defense mechanism.
Another example is the Silky Anteater, of which Jack Ewing wrote about in our last edition, this cute animal curls up like a golden tennis ball when it goes to sleep.
Some reptiles also take this spherical form to protect themselves. An example is the ball python, its name comes from its unusual behavior, in case of a threat, it curls into a ball and hides the head between its rings.
Photo by Lisa Peck
In the marine world, there are hundreds of examples, but the most famous and common is the sea urchin, which is a sphere, made of thorns sticking out from the center of its body, warning us to stay away from it.
Some insects look like a sphere, such as the mealybugs, very common in Costa Rica, they usually live in damp places. When something or someone
approaches them, they turn into a sphere for safety.
Next time you look at a pre-Columbian sphere, remember that there are many animals who adopt this perfect shape for protection.
Read more about the Porcupine >>>
