Protective skins and built-in shells have been a distinct physical feature of many animals since prehistoric times. Survival for dinosaurs with armor-like skins became a lot easier, and it was not just dinosaurs but also marine animals and insects. Hard protection is the best assurance of safety in a world where there’s an endless cycle between prey and predator. In addition, this distinct feature provides them with a better defense and accessible shelter during natural calamities.

Photo: Pixabay/MikeGoad

Even to this day, modern counterparts of prehistoric animals exist. From mammals to fishes, you can find several species with protective armor. The remarkable physical feature is not just impenetrable; it can also be poisonous, sharp, or an excellent camouflage. Such physical features are even used as a reference to create armor — which is called bioinspiration.

10 Animals with the Coolest Protective Exteriors

These animals may have a common denominator, but each protective exterior has its own qualities. Listed below are the animals with the most incredible defense in the Kingdom Animalia.

Armadillo

The armadillo is covered with a natural armor of overlapping plates — from the back to its tail. For this reason, it was named the Armadillo, which means “little armored one” in Spanish. They are not aggressive creatures and avoid conflicts as much as possible, and the Dasypodidae keeps its head down to not further attract possible predators. Apparently, the armadillo’s hard exterior is not as indestructible as it seems to be. But the shell can still withstand strong animal teeth and block shots from a BB gun.

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The protective armor is made of bone, keratin, and collagen. One type of Dasypodidae can curve into a ball to further fend themselves from outside forces — it is called the Three-Banded Armadillo. Unlike other armadillos, they can quickly cover themselves and resort to digging into the soil for further protection. The armadillo is often associated with its primitive relative, the Glyptodont.

Pangolin

You can find a Pangolin in tropical countries, forests, cultivated areas, and savannah grasslands. Pangolins are fully covered with scales — rolling into a ball of armor is their defense mechanism. Predators such as wildcats can’t easily destroy the tough exterior, making the feature highly beneficial for a pangolin. Its tail also has sharp scales — a useful tool to ward off a predator in close proximity.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters

The toothless and defenseless Pholidota can confidently survive animal predators, but poachers are a different matter. Even with their protective scales, Pangolins couldn’t escape the dangers of human greed. They are labeled as vulnerable to critically endangered by the World Wildlife Org. National and international laws protect the reptile-like mammal — who were coldly hunted for their skin and scales.

Indian Rhinoceros

Scales are not the only physical feature considered an armor — tough skin is also an excellent protective cover. The Indian Rhinoceros has ultra-thick skin with grey-brown color and pinkish skin folds, and rhinoceros skin ranges up to two inches thick and consists of layers of collagen. The male Rhinoceros have thicker skin and more folds in their neck than females, and thick skin helps them regulate body temperature and protect themselves from injuries.

Photo: Pixabay/blende12

Although thick, the Indian Rhinoceros skin is quite sensitive. Spending time in the mud is a form of skincare for a rhinoceros — it protects the skin from harmful sun exposure and insect bites. The thick skin is more of a health protection for Indian rhinos than a defense mechanism.

Turtles

Turtles are famously known for their shells that serve as protection and shelter for the reptile. It is made of bones and engulfed with keratin. The turtle shell has two parts — the upper section is the carapace, and the lower area is called the plastron. Unlike other shelled animals such as the hermit crab, it is a fixed body part. The shell is a part of the turtle’s anatomy, made of bone and part of the spine.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Charles J. Sharp

Aside from the warding off of hunting animals, the shell is essential to a turtle’s health. Without their cover, turtles will be more prone to infection and bacteria. Each turtle breed has specific shell qualities. For example, softshell turtles don’t have scutes or scales made out of keratin. Instead, their shell is covered with thick skin. Like the armadillo, turtles also have ancient relatives who have the same features, and they are called Eorhynchochelys Sinensis.

Abalone

The abalone lives in a shell constructed in several layers of calcium carbonate plates. According to Marc Meyers of the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, the abalone shell is most likely similar to a brick-and-mortar structure. The shell layers are the chalk-like bricks that prevent brittleness. Protein, which is the mortar, helps absorb impact well without breaking.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/James St. John

An abalone can safely defend itself from predators by shutting its shells extremely tight while clinging to reefs. Aside from their effective protection, abalone shells are quite attractive — often collected by humans to create accessories or home decoration. The shell allures people with iridescent beauty and is greatly believed to be 3,000 times stronger than a single crystal of calcium carbonate.

Porcupine

They may be small, but you can’t underestimate the capability of a porcupine to defend and scare away predators. The porcupine has a needle-clad armor on its back called quills. Once a predator gets close, the porcupine will raise the extremely sharp barbs — to intimidate. The quill will detach from the porcupine’s body if injected into the attacker's skin.

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The defense won’t kill the attacker, but the immense pain is an excellent distraction. In addition, attempting to remove the quill will apply more pain to the predator — giving the porcupine sufficient time to run. Apparently, the quills are hardened modified hair made out of thick keratin plates.

Texas Ironclad Beetle

Only the toughest of tools can make a crack in the exoskeleton of the Texas Ironclad Beetle. The thick solid armor is constructed with chitin, a polysaccharide that keeps the beetle from being squashed by a vehicle. Moreover, the armor serves as storage for water to avoid dehydration.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Steveprutz

The ironclad beetle won’t have to worry about human shoes and other heavy objects with its crush-resistant armor. The diabolical tough construction can also serve as a reference for designing tougher materials. Based on a study from Purdue University and the University of California, the insect’s shell stretches when applied with pressure rather than shattering.

Chiton

Chiton is a type of mollusk with a calcified shell and is often found along rocky shores. They hide between boulders, and their tough exterior serves as effective camouflage. Chitons have eight overlapping protective plates that are useful for fending off predators, and the rigid plates are an excellent shield from strong crashing waves.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Jerry Kirkhart

The eight plates of the Chiton shell are encircled with a ring-shaped girdle at the bottom — attached to a softer tissue. With the shell’s flexible features, a Chiton can quickly roll like a ball when it senses nearby danger. Scientists are also studying the flexible protective structure of the Chiton shell to see if they can apply its qualities to human armor.

Crocodile

Like many other reptiles, crocodiles have a scale-protected exterior that prevents them from getting injuries. The scales are also extra helpful with defending themselves from attackers. Crocodile scales have a bony plate that forms spikes on the skin called osteoderm. Any animal who attempts to attack or bite into crocodile skin will certainly get hurt.

Photo: Pixabay/StefanVogeli

The armor of osteoderm also balances calcium in the crocodile’s body, especially during egg formation. It does not just protect the exterior body parts but also functions as a calcium reservoir. Osteoderm and having a thick layer of skin make crocodiles capable of surviving several bullet shots.

Hedgehog

Like a porcupine, hedgehogs curl into a ball when a predator is nearby. They have sharp spines on their body's outer back, which they use to intimidate a possible predator. With 3,000 to 5,000 sharp quills pointed outward, an attacker will certainly hesitate to approach the hedgehog. Even when asleep, they interlock the quills to ensure protection for a good night’s sleep.

Photo: Pixabay/Alexas_Fotos

The defense mechanism of hedgehogs is a combination of sharp-pointed quills, hissing, and screaming at the predator. Hedgehogs are indeed masters at survival and pushing away other wild animals. Predators will think twice before biting into the skin of quills and, surely, conclude that it is not worth the risk.

Survival for Armored Animals

Predators are not the only threat armored animals are protecting themselves from — humans are greater threats. People need to protect other creatures, like the Pangolin, which is already labeled as a crucially endangered species, from greedy poachers. These animals have great physical features, and it is a grave offense to take their lives.

Surely, the listed animals above aren’t the only scale, shell, and thick-skin protected species. There are numerous animals out there with the same features, and they will amaze you. See more here or here.