Claudio Contreras / Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) growing on coastline, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago National Park (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, November, Honorary Mention in the third natio...

Jack Dykinga / Hairy bird's foot morning glory (Ipomoea leptotoma) flower over Prickly pair (Opuntia sp) Catalina State Park, near Tucson, Arizona, USA, August.

Floris van Breugel / Beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) in otherwise stark desert, Alabama Hills, Owen's Valley, California, USA May

Alex Mustard / Backlit detail of branching fire coral (Millepora alcicornis) showing the hair like polyps, filled with stinging nematocysts. East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Caribbean Sea.

Jack Dykinga / Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) chicks nesting in saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), near Oracle, Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA, May.

Jack Dykinga / Sunset light on twisted Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona, USA, April.

Ann & Steve Toon / Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) curled up sleeping in autumn leaves, UK, June, captive.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) Kokerboom Forest, Nieuwoudtville, Namaqualand, Northern Cape province, South Africa, September 2012.

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / Spiny tree trunk (Pachypodium sp) Berenty Reserve, Madagascar.

Franco Banfi,Franco Banfi / Ornate ghostpipefish, (Solenostomus paradoxus) Raja Ampat, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean

Rolf Nussbaumer / Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) adult fighting with Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) female over Texas Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia lindheimeri) Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, S...

John Abbott / Giant prickly pear cactus (Opuntia echios var. gigantea) amongst carpetweed, Plazas Island, Galapagos

Rolf Nussbaumer / Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), male perched on Texas Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia engelmanni). Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.

Floris van Breugel / Cholla cactus (Opuntia) backlit by setting sun, Anza Borrego State Park. California, USA. April 2009.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Single White Prickly Poppy (Argemone albiflora) flower, in wildflower meadow, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, Coastal Bend, Texas Coast, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / White Prickly Poppy (Argemone albiflora) flowering in wildflower meadow, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, Coastal Bend, Texas Coast, USA

Edwin Giesbers / Sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) growing in sand dune, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, Europe

Suzi Eszterhas / Digger Bee (Melissodes sp) pollinating Engelmann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii) flower, Red Corral Ranch, Texas

Jack Dykinga / Dense stands of Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp) in Tamaulipas, Mexico

Jack Dykinga / Gopher snake (Pituophis sp) amongst Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla) and prickly pear cacti (Opuntia macrocentra), Maderas del Carmen Natural Reserve, Mexico

Rolf Nussbaumer / Daring Jumping Spider {Phidippus audax} adult on fruit of Texas Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia lindheimeri) Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, June

Jack Dykinga / Close-up of Agave (Agave montana) with red thorns / spines and interesting patternation on blades, Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Tim Fitzharris / Opuntia (Opuntia sp) in Chihuahuan Desert landscape, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Rolf Nussbaumer / Big Bend NP, Chihuahuan desert, Texas, USA. Strawberry cactus + Prickly pear cactus.

Jim Brandenburg / Prickly Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) petal, Discovery Lake, Superior National Forest, Minnesota

Michio Hoshino / Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) and Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp) cactus, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Jeff Rotman / Close up of Prickly alcyonarian coral {Dendronephthya sp} Red Sea

Jeff Rotman / Prickly Alcyonarian coral {Dendronepthya sp} close-up, Red Sea

Nigel Cattlin / Bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides). Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, UK. October.

Nigel Cattlin / Bristly oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides) flowers on shingle. Chesil Beach, Dorset, England, UK. October.

Karine Aigner / Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) coiled up at base of Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp). Texas, USA. April.

Karine Aigner / North American bobcat (Lynx rufus) juvenile amongst Prickly pear (Opuntia sp) cacti. Texas, USA. July.

Karine Aigner / Green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) on Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp). Texas, USA. June.

Dong Lei / Blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula) Mt Everest, Mt Qomolangma National Park, Qinghai Tibet Plateau, China.

Dong Lei / Blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula) in mountain habitat, Mt Everest, Mt Qomolangma National Park, Qinghai Tibet Plateau, China.

Jack Dykinga / Santa Rita prickly pear (Opuntia santarita) cactus flower with new growth spines on pad. Santa Catalina mountains foothills, Upper Sonnoran Desert, Arizona, USA. May.

Nick Upton / Devil's apple (Solanum linnaeanum) with toxic fruit. Invasive species, native to South Africa. Sardinia, Italy. June.

Nick Upton / Apple of Sodom / Devil's apple / Devil's tomato (Solanum linnaeanum / sodomaeum) an invasive South African species with toxic fruits developing, coastal scrubland, Sardinia, Italy, Jun...

Nick Upton / Prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) bush, berries ripening. In garrigue / maquis scrubland, Supramonte mountain range, near Urzulei, Sardinia, Italy. June 2018.

Nick Upton / Prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) bush, berries ripening. In garrigue / maquis scrubland, Supramonte mountain range, near Urzulei, Sardinia, Italy. June 2018.

Heather Angel / Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum) branch with fruit.Sichuan, China. July.

Heather Angel / Prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperum), flowers open red and change to blue. Caucasus, Russia. June.

Shane Gross / Spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) camouflaged on a sponge, The Bahamas.

Nick Upton / Walled fields of Prickly pear / Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) on volcanic soil, formerly harvested for Cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus), with Monte Corona volcanic peak in the background, n...

Nick Upton / Virgin's Mantle / Cretan prickly clover (Fagonia cretica) a Mediterranean species invasive on the Canary Islands, flowering on a hillside near Ye, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, February.

Marie Lochman / Prickly Dryandra (Banksia falcata), Western Australian endemic plant, Western Australia, Cape Arid National Park, Australia. November 2015

Marie Lochman / Prickly dryandra (Banksia falcata), Western Australian endemic plant, Western Australia, Cape Arid National Park, Western Australia. November 2015

Marie Lochman / Prickly dryandra (Banksia armata), Western Australian endemic plant, Western Australia, Mt. Ragged - Cape Arid National Park, Western Australia.

Marie Lochman / Prickly Dryandra (Banksia armata), Western Australian endemic plant, Western Australia, Mt. Ragged - Cape Arid National Park, October 2014

John Chan / Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) perched on a Coastal pricklypear (Opuntia littoralis), avoiding the spines as it takes flight, Southern California, USA, April.

Alan Murphy/ BIA / Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) calling from prickly pear cactus, Texas

Nick Hawkins / Galapagos prickly pear (Opuntia echios), a vulnerable species. Isabela Island, Galapagos.

Nick Hawkins / Common cactus finch (Geospiza scandens) perched on Prickly pear (Opuntia). San Cristobal Island, Galapagos.

John Cancalosi / Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii). Endemic to Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) flowering besides Prickly pear (Opuntia sp), in desert. Arizona.

Tui De Roy / Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) with two chicks at nest. Prickly pear (Opuntia sp) in background. Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island, Galapagos.

Tui De Roy / Nazca booby (Sula granti), pair amongst Prickly pear (Opuntia sp) cacti at coast. Wolf Island, Galapagos. August 2016.

Tui De Roy / Nazca booby (Sula granti) chick under Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp) on cliff. Wolf Island, Galapagos. August 2016.

Tui De Roy / Nazca booby (Sula granti), three on cliff. Wolf Island, Galapagos. August 2016.

David Fleetham / Stone scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri mystes) camouflaged against surrounding reef. Galapagos Islands National Park, Isabela Island, Ecuador.

Jeff Vanuga / Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) feeding on Cactus (Opuntia sp) fruit. Plazas Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Jeff Vanuga / Giant prickly pear (Opuntia echios) cacti, Plazas Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Moth caterpillar, tubercles with urticating hairs. Wuliangshan Nature Reserve, Jingdong, Yunnan Province, China.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Moth caterpillar with urticating hairs, on a leaf. Wuliangshan Nature Reserve, Jingdong, Yunnan Province, China.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Moth caterpillar on leaf, tubercles with urticating hairs. Wuliangshan Nature Reserve, Jingdong, Yunnan Province, China.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Moth caterpillar on leaf, tubercles with urticating hairs. Wuliangshan Nature Reserve, Jingdong, Yunnan Province, China.

Eladio Fernandez / Prickly palm (Bactris plumeriana) fruits, Hispaniola.

Eladio Fernandez / Prickly pear (Opuntia sp) cactus in flower, Cayo Romano, Cuba

Alex Mustard / Hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) female, portrait. Ambon Bay, Ambon, Maluku Archipelago, Indonesia. Banda Sea, tropical west Pacific Ocean.

MYN / Lily Kumpe / Bynoe's gecko (Heteronotia binoei) William Bay National Park, Western Australia. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

Linda Pitkin / Spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Caribbean.

Linda Pitkin / Spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri), camouflaged on coral reef Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Caribbean.

Nick Upton / Prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus oxycedrus), with ripening seed cones in pastureland in limestone mountains, near Kosmas, Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Prickly pear / Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing beside coastal footpath around the Acronauplia peninsula below the Citadel, Nafplio, Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece, August.

Bert Willaert / Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Jean E. Roche / Prickly sow-thistle (Sonchus asper ssp glaucescens) flowers on beach, Pomegues Island, Frioul Archipelago, Marseille, France, April.

Jean E. Roche / Prickly sow-thistle (Sonchus asper ssp glaucescens) flowers on beach, Pomegues Island, Frioul Archipelago, Marseille, France, April.

Jouan Rius / Legs and walking boots next to Desert Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia sp) with pink flower , Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA, May.

Jouan Rius / Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia sp) in flower, Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA. April.

Dong Lei / Blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula) Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Hoh Xil UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, China.

Dong Lei / Blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula) Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Hoh Xil UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, China.

Dong Lei / Blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula) and Blue poppy (Meconopsis racemosa) Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Hoh Xil UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, China.

Alan Murphy/ BIA / Northern Caracara (Caracara cheriway) and prickly pear cactus, Texas

Alan Murphy/ BIA / Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) female on prickly pear catus, Texas

Jiri Lochman / Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Willandra Lakes UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, New South Wales, Australia.

Jiri Lochman / Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Willandra Lakes UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, New South Wales, Australia.

Jiri Lochman / Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Willandra Lakes UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, New South Wales, Australia.

Jiri Lochman / Prickly Gecko (Heteronotia binoei), Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Coast UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Western Australia.

David Pattyn / Ring tailed lemur (Lemur catta) sitting on branch amongst spiny plants, Berenty Private Reserve, southern Madagascar.

David Pattyn / Ring tailed lemur (Lemur catta) sitting amongst spiny plants, Berenty Private Reserve, southern Madagascar.

David Pattyn / Ring tailed lemur (Lemur catta) sitting on spiny plant, Berenty Private Reserve, southern Madagascar.

Doc White / Cholla cactus (Opuntia molesta) spines stuck in car tyre, Catavina, Baja California, Mexico

Doc White / Cholla cactus (Opuntia molesta) spines stuck in car tyre, Catavina, Baja California, Mexico

Nick Upton / Cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus), dense colony of scale insects from which the red dye cochineal is extracted, on Prickly pear cactus / Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) leaf, Gran Canaria, Cana...

Nick Upton / Tropical tent-web spider (Cyrtophora citricola) webs shrouding a large stand of Prickly pear cactus / Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica), Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, June.

Nick Upton / Female Tropical tent-web spider (Cyrtophora citricola) guarding a string of egg sacs within a communal web shrouding a stand of Prickly pear cactus / Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica), Gran Canaria,...