In the competitive struggle for survival, less powerful animals have developed an ingenious array of strategies to find and kill their targets. Traps, lures and lies may be the best-known tricks to man, but are also skilfully employed by creatures in the animal kingdom.
With weapons of deception, animals can disarm and entice prey to their death. Perhaps the oldest weapons employed by animals are projectiles, evolving their own versions of poison-tipped harpoons, chemical missiles and high-powered bullets. The creatures featured in this episode demonstrate the resourceful and inspired nature of surviving in the animal world.
Specialist hunting strategies demand particular adaptations of the body, from fearsome teeth to scimitar-sharp claws and tusks. In the natural world there are razors, guillotines, daggers, clubs and spears a galaxy of animal kitted out with an arsenal of weapons to gain a meal.
To get close enough, many use stealth, speed and surprise. Besides outright warfare, these weapons are also used in aggressive displays to threaten and intimidate competitors and predators alike.