Rainpoursdownafteralong,hot,dryseasonontheAustraliangrasslands.Itsoakstheground.Soon,themudstartstomove.Insectscomeoutandstartlookingforfood.Aping-pong-ball-shapedfrogcalledacrucifixfrogwakesfromalongsleep.Shedigsherwaytothesurface.Thecross-shapedpatternonherbodystandsout.Theinsectsspotherand attack.

Luckily,thecrucifixfroghasaspecialadaptation.Shereleasesastickygoofromherskin.Theinsectssticktothegoo.Shewillsoonshed,orsloughoff,herskin.Thenshe’llgobbleuptheoldskin—glue,insects,and all.

Ayellowribbonflicksintheair.Itisaforkedtongueattachedtothedroolingmouthofa3-meter- (10-foot-) longlizard.It’saKomododragononthehuntinalushIndonesian forest.

Komodoshavedevelopedextremeadaptationsforhunting.AKomododragon’stonguehelpsittastetheairtofindprey.Itsstrong,jaggedteethcantearthroughlargeanimals,likedeerandwaterbuffalo.Butit’sthedrool,oozingoveritstongueandteeth,thatisitssecret weapon.

Komododragonmouthsareteemingwithdeadlybacteria.Rottenmeattrappedbetweentheteethofthelizardfeedmorethan50differentkindsofbacteria.Atleastsevenaredeadlytomost animals!

Komodosalsohavevenomintheirsaliva.Itpreventsbloodfromclotting,whichmeansbitewoundswon’theal.So,asingleKomodobitedeliversapoisonousmixofbacteriaandvenom.Afterbitingitsprey,thedragonfollowsitandwaitsforittodie.Thendinneris served.

A “worm” wigglesoveracoralreef.Apassingfishswimsuptoswallowit.Fasterthantheblinkofaneye,thefishissuckedintothemouthofa frogfish.

Frogfishhavethreeapproachestohunting.First,they aremastersofdisguise.Somelooklikerocksorsponges.Otherslooklikeseaweed.Theyblendin,unseenby passing fish.

Second,frogfishhavebuilt-infishingpoles.A long spine ontheirbacksreachesupandovertheirheadswitha lure.Itlookslikeawormorfly.Frogfishwiggletheirlurestodrawunsuspecting fish.

Third,frogfishcaninflatetheirbodies12timestheirnormalsize.Thiscreatesapressurethattheyusetosuckinpreylikeavacuumcleaner.Ithappenssofastthatasinglefishcanbesuckedoutofaschool unnoticed.