Guy Edwardes / Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) spitting venom. Kruger, South Africa. Controlled conditions.

Suzi Eszterhas / African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in defensive posture towards safari vehicle, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Porcupinefish (Diodon nicthemerus) in defensive posture, Port Phillip Bay, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Remi Masson / Group of Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) shoaling to protect themselves against predators, River Rhone, Rhone-Alpes, France, July.

Konrad Wothe / Slow motion clip of Wood ants (Formica rufa) on anthill, squirting formic acid to repel threat, Bavaria, Germany, April.

David Fleetham / Guineafowl pufferfish (Arothron meleagris) puffed up in defence, Hawaii.

Lucas Bustamante / Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis rhombicollis) in defensive position, on flower, Chinambi, Carchi, Ecuador.

Five Films / Female Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) defending pup on beach, chasing male away, Horsey, Norfolk, November.

Robert Thompson / Sawfly larvae (Nematus pavidus) defensive posture, Peatlands Park, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. September.

Jordi Chias / European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena) and Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) circling baitball of Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) Formigas Islets, Azores. Finalist in the Underwater Categ...

Paul Bertner / Fulgorid Planthopper (Phrictus quinquepartitus) in defensive posture, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Silke Arndt / Western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis), threat display, South Dakota, USA, September.