By Michelle
Warwicker, Reporter, BBC Nature
The sea hare,
a soft-bodied marine creature, uses a sticky secretion to fool hungry
predators, say scientists.
The slow-moving
animals are known for defending themselves by squirting an off-putting mixture
of purple ink and a white substance called opaline.
However,
exactly how this sticky opaline is used to deter predators was previously
unknown.
Now scientists
have shown the substance coats predators' antennae, deactivating their chemical
senses.
Researchers
suggested that with their sense of smell blocked predators lose their appetite
and spend a long time cleaning themselves of the sticky coating, allowing the
sea hares to escape.
Sneaky
predator avoidance
The team from Georgia State
University , Atlanta , US
Details of
their findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/21929070
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