Super Skin: Spines, Quills, and Plates

Book excerpt: Some species of porcupines have 30,000 quills. Sea horses have bony plates to make them less appetizing, and a sea urchin’s spines may be 1 foot (30 cm) long and venomous. These animals are definitely equipped to survive in their native habitats, much to the disappointment of their predators! In this lively volume, young zoologists will learn about various types of body coverings that help creatures, such as the echidna and the pangolin, stay alive. Photographs of animals in action and a graphic organizer further reinforce the importance of adaptations in the wild.