Defense Mechanisms
The striped polecat is an aggressive and very territorial animal. It marks its territory with its feces and through the anal emission of fumes. These fumes serve as a defense against predators, in a similar manner as employed by skunks. The emissions, released by anal stink glands, temporarily blind their adversaries and irritate the mucous membranes resulting in an intense burning sensation. Before spraying the opponent with this noxious fluid, the striped polecat will often take a deimatic (threat) stance with its back arched, rear end facing the opponent, and tail straight up in the air.
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Famous quotes containing the word defense:
“If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.”
—Malcolm X (1925–1965)