![]() Other animals will try to drive threats out of their territory, again playing dead stops this. If you play dead you stop the prey drive in its tracks. A lot of animals have a ‘prey drive’ -if they see something running they try to catch it which often leads to killing it. And some can run and leap at swift speeds. Animals don’t just run things down for food. Many prey animals have eyes to the side of their head, which gives them better peripheral vision. The environment depends on the balance between the skills of the predator and the defence of its prey. Some prey also exhibit behaviors that threaten predators. For example, snapping turtles stretch their legs to appear larger and snap aggressively at predators. But true prey animals, like deer and sheep, have special adaptations that help them survive despite their limited abilities. Predator/prey relations are vital in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. These receptors usually connect to the visual portion of the snake ’s brain. These receptors allow the snakes to detect infrared radiation (heat) in the environment. Pythons, pit vipers and a few other snakes have specialized receptors on their faces. Running from predators, hiding, and playing dead are examples of behavioral defenses. Thermal Vision Some snakes have evolved the ability to see the body heat of their prey. By controlling the population of herbivores, they indirectly protect plant species from being overconsumed, ensuring the survival of a diverse range of flora. ![]() A very few species live in the midst of the hot, dry, arid, and sandy deserts of the Sahara region. (credit: modification of work by Tom Ings) Prey animals must always be on the lookout for danger. They are capable of staying alive by utilizing the little amount of water they get by metabolizing their body fats, by feeding on succulent plants like cactus, and by taking the blood and meat from their prey. ![]() \( \newcommand\): One form of mimicry is when a harmless species mimics the coloration of a harmful species, as is seen with the (a) wasp ( Polistes sp.) and the (b) hoverfly ( Syrphus sp.). ![]()
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