To defend themselves, animals bluff by appearing bigger, fiercer or more repulsive.
To protect peace, it's better to avoid war!
In perfect accord with the common sense expressed by this tautology, animals, when threatened, do everything they can to appear bigger, fiercer or more... disgusting than they really are, and so dissuade their adversaries from engaging in an offensive with an uncertain outcome.
1898264 RM
Hippopotamus female protecting her calf from an aggressive male, Kruger, South Africa
514506 RM
Hedgehog
57951 RM
Sparring femelle Crab Panglao Island Bohol Sea Philippines
1876353 RM
Puss Moth caterpillar on twig France [...]
2094483 RM
Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus) Mentawai Siberut Island, Indonesia.
2042071 RM
Boxer crab (Lybia tessellata) on a coconut - Indonesia
69177 RM
Guépard montrant les dents et hérissant les poils
41930 RM
Troupeau de Boeuf musqué en cercle pour se défendre ; Devon Island Arctique canadien
2071571 RM
Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea), Kosciuszko National Park, Australie
36873 RM
Giant Pacific Octopus spraying ink British Columbia Canada
2088799 RM
Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in a pond, Loir et Cher, Prairies du Fouzon, France
2087974 RM
Indian cobra (Naja naja), young on white background
1880624 RM
Longhorn beetle death feigning Lac de Madine Lorraine France ; Réserve Nationale de Chasse et de [...]
2118481 RM
Giant leaf-tail gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), threatening gesture, Madagascar, Africa, Indian [...]
2094506 RM
Tropical Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus), puffing aggressive behaviour, Corozal district, Belize, [...]
2091207 RM
Octopus (Octopus sp.) spewing his ink in the lagoon, Mayotte, Indian Ocean.
2064028 RM
Armadillo girdled lizard (Cordylus cataphractus), South Africa, South Africa
2035977 RM
Fire-bellied Toad in defensive posture - Germany
1965060 RM
Leopard Sea Cucumber - Tonga
1900673 RM
Pegleg ball in ground Lorraine France [...]
1715498 RM
Large ball of Blue jack mackerel Azores
1438649 RM
Guineafowl Pufferfish Pacific Ocean Galapagos Island
1293182 RM
Grass Snake feigning death in defense posture
1010223 RM
Queen Bumblebee in posture protection
981345 RM
Leopard Sea Cucumber excretes cuvierian organs for defensive, Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia
964940 RM
Frill-necked Lizard frightened showing her collar Australia
934250 RM
long-tailed Pangolin curling up in a bowl
92642 RM
Caterpillar of Machaon crawling on a stem in June France [...]
1441960 RM
Alaskan brown bear threatening open mouth Alaska
166217 RM
African elephant threatening Amboseli Kenya
1211725 RM
Striped Skunk in Minnesota USA
2013347 RM
Rusty-spotted cat on a branch [...]
1435053 RM
Male Gelada yawning and showing canines Simien Mountains
1465739 RM
Collared Lizard male in a Defensive posture Arizona USA
473114 RM
Mante land defence posture, United Arab Emirates
30046 RM
Attitude d'intimidation d'un lézard à collerette Australie ; Région des Kimberley
197127 RM
Female Ostrich defending its nest Masaï Mara Kenya
1901098 RM
Golfo-dulce Anole showing dewlap Corcovado Costa Rica
2042449 RM
Long-eared Owl in intimidation position on black background
2026716 RM
Tomato frog in a pond - Madagascar [...]
2046098 RM
Goliath birdeater tarantula intimidating - French Guiana
2042966 RM
Mute Swans on the water - Lorraine France ; Pre-nuptial intimidation position [...]