Animals That Spit Acid
Bombardier Beetle: This Beetle Squirts Boiling Chemicals from Its Butt Bombardier beetles are ground beetles that have the ability to shoot heated chemicals from their abdomen – boiling water, in fact. How does the beetle do this without harming itself? There are two glands at the tip of the abdomen. Each gland has hydrogen peroxide and an acid reservoir. When threatened, it squeezes the contents of the reservoir into a “reaction chamber” filled with water and enzymes.
Ants That Spray Formic Acid Most ants have stingers, and they use these to inject formic acid, which causes pain and a rash. This is what gives fire ants their name. A few species, though, spray acid rather than stinging. The formic acid is stored in a sack in the ant’s abdomen, and it can make up 20 percent of the ant’s total weight!
Blind Termites With Fontanellar Guns Some North American termites have a “gun” on their heads. This hornlike projection, called a fontanellar gun, emits a sticky fluid that the insects use to dissuade predators. Though blind, the termite can accurately spray at a range of several centimeters – a distance larger than the size of the insect.
The Whip-Scorpion’s Weapon Whip scorpions are arachnids. They have claws like scorpions, but they lack a stinging tail or venomous fangs. Instead, spray an acid that smells like vinegar – but that is 20 times stronger than vinegar – from two “turrets” on the abdomen. They use the whip-like tail to direct the spray. This acid probably wouldn’t burn your skin, but it could damage your eyes.
Tobacco Hornworm: Toxic Caterpillar Breath The tobacco hornworm caterpillar consumes the toxic tobacco plant. It then secretes the toxins, including nicotine, through its skin in order to scare away predators. Researchers call this “defensive halitosis,” or bad breath.
The Glands of the Devil-Rider Stick Insect This stick insect can propel chemical compounds called terpenes from glands on its metathorax, on its back near the third pair of legs. The chemical produces an intense burning sensation when it encounters a predator’s eyes or mouth. The spray is strong enough to knock other insects from the stick insect’s back! This stick insect is born with the ability to defend itself in this way. Even stick insect nymphs have been observed shooting terpenes at attacking ants.
The Venom of Spitting Cobras There are twelve species of spitting cobras. Unlike other snakes that use needle-like fangs to inject their venom, spitting cobras use their fangs to spray it. The snakes do this by squeezing the muscles around the venom glands.
Do Camels Spit Acid? Camels spitting on someone they don’t like is common in comedy. It is also a real defense they utilize when another animal gets too close. What the camel spits is mostly vomit, which includes digestive acids from the stomach. Other camelids, such as Llamas, also spit when threatened or annoyed.
Acidic Vomit of the Eurasian Roller A small bird called the Eurasian roller loves to eat grasshoppers. When threatened, the grasshopper releases chemicals derived from the plants they eat in hopes of leaving a bad taste in the bird’s mouth. That may work for some birds, but not the roller. In fact, the roller is able to store some of these chemicals in its body. When it is disturbed, it vomits up the orange chemicals in a mass, the smell of which may keep predators away.
Avoid the “Splash Zone” of the Turkey Vulture The American turkey vulture utilizes a similar strategy. If a predator approaches a nest, adult birds vomit stomach contents in a projectile manner. Not only is this potion acidic, but it may contain bacteria and foul-smelling partially-digested carrion.
Fulmar Petrel: The Fulmar’s Oily Acid The Fulmar petrel, a type of sea bird, extracts an orange oily substance from its food. When threatened, it can spit the oil up to six feet. This substance mats feathers and eats away at their waterproofing oils. Even eagles have been known to die of cold or drowning after getting spit upon by a Fulmar.
Velvet Worm/Spider: Worms And Spiders That Spit Glue Velvet worms are many-legged invertebrates that resemble centipedes. It can project a “slimy adhesive fluid” from glands located on the sides of its head. It uses this sticky slime to trap prey. Spitting spiders take this tactic a bit further. They spit a fluid that contains liquid spider silk as well as venom.