Threat display facts for kids

A dog showing a threat display

A threat display is how an animal tries to scare away other animals. It's like saying, "Stay away!" without actually fighting. Animals do this to protect themselves, their babies, or their territory. For example, a dog might show its teeth and growl loudly. A cat might hiss and make its fur stand up.

Many animals use threat displays to look much bigger than they really are. A lion can make its mane stand up, making it seem huge and strong. Bears stand on their back legs, raise their front paws, and show their teeth while growling. This makes them look very intimidating to anything that comes too close.

What is a Threat Display?

A threat display is a behavior animals use to warn others. It's a way to avoid a real fight. Animals want to stay safe and save their energy. So, they try to scare off danger first. These displays can involve sounds, body movements, or even changing colors.

Why Animals Use Threat Displays

Animals use these displays for many reasons. They might be protecting their young ones. They could be guarding their food or their home. Sometimes, they just want to avoid being eaten by a predator. A good threat display can make an enemy think twice. It often makes the attacker decide it's not worth the risk.

How Animals Make Themselves Look Bigger

Many threat displays are about looking larger and more dangerous.

• Birds might spread their wings wide. They can also puff up their feathers. This makes them appear much bigger than they are.
• Lizards like the frill-necked lizard spread out a large frill around their head. They also stand tall and wave their tail. This makes them look very scary.
• Fish can puff up their bodies or spread their fins. This makes them seem too big to swallow.
• Mammals like bears stand up tall. They might also make their fur stand on end. This adds to their size and makes them look more powerful.

Using Sounds and Colors

Animals also use sounds to scare others. A rattlesnake shakes its tail to make a loud rattling noise. This warns other animals to stay away. Some animals use bright colors that suddenly appear. For example, certain moths have hidden bright spots on their wings. When threatened, they flash these spots. This can startle a predator and give the moth time to escape. Some octopuses can change their skin color very quickly. They might flash bright, scary patterns to warn off danger.

Images for kids

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  Spirama helicina moth showing a pattern that looks like a snake's face.

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  Callistoctopus macropus octopus changing to a bright red color with white spots when it feels threatened.

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  A Frill-necked lizard facing a predator, making itself look big with its head frills.

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  A stick insect, Peruphasma schultei, showing a warning display.

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  A stick insect, Haaniella dehaanii, in a threat pose.

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  An adult female Mediterranean mantis, Iris oratoria, in a threat pose.

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  A female eyed hawkmoth, Smerinthus ocellatus, showing large eye-like spots on its wings.

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  Speiredonia spectans resting, looking like a brooding head.

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  Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii flashing its wings in a warning pose.

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  A large "Phasma" insect showing a hidden resting pose and a dramatic wing flash.

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  The belly of the spider Poecilotheria regalis. Its bright yellow front legs are used in warning displays.

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  A scorpion's threat display with its pincers spread wide and its tail raised, ready to sting.

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  A Namaqua chameleon showing a threat display with its dewlap (a flap of skin under its throat).

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  A Colombian four-eyed frog, Pleurodema brachyops.

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  A lowland streaked tenrec, Hemicentetes semispinosus, raising spines on its head and body when threatened.

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  A Eurasian eagle owl, Bubo bubo, puffing up the feathers on its neck to look larger.

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  A Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias, opening its wings to show two large eye spots when threatened.

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  A rattlesnake raising its rattle on its tail. This noise can startle new predators and warn experienced ones.

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  A garden tiger moth, Arctia caja, showing bright black spots on orange-red hindwings. This pattern warns that the insect tastes bad.

See also

In Spanish: Comportamiento deimático para niños