Book excerpt: Stenches, slime, excrement, and vomit are all gross—and very effective—animal defenses. A dog that has been sprayed by a skunk will rarely want to approach the furry animal again. The seabird called the fulmar spews a stinky vomit powerful enough to cause a bird to drown! These are just two of the creatures in the spotlight of this entertaining volume. Readers will learn just how powerful defensive adaptations can be against even the deadliest predators. Essential science vocabulary, demonstrative photographs, and surprising fact boxes augment this book’s motivating and educational content.