Robert Valentic / Eastern tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) female, Yarra River corridor in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in mid-summer. She is in a defensive pre-strike position with hood expanded, accompanie...

Mark Taylor / Maine Coon female cat, Serafin, in fierce defensive posture

Mitsuaki Iwago / African Lion (Panthera leo) females and young males attacking and eventually killing a Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hissing from tree cavity, North America

Terry Whittaker / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and domestic cat in urban garden, Greater Manchester, UK, August 2017. Filmed using a camera trap.

Lynn M. Stone / Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) at burrow, hissing and inflating feathers in nest defense display. Cape Coral, Florida, USA. April.

Alain Dragesco-Joffe / Caracal (Felis caracal) adult male in its den, Air Mountains, Sahara, Niger.

Alain Dragesco-Joffe / Sand cat (Felis margarita) female hissing, Sahara, Niger.

Robert Thompson / Hissing hawk-moth (Phyllosphingia dissimilis) on stem. Kalinovka, Primorsky Krai, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia. June.

Ernie Janes / Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) with surprised expression, captive, occurs in South East Asia.

Jen Guyton / African rock python (Python sebae) in a defensive posture in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Terry Whittaker / Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) captive, occurs in Southern Africa., Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Kent, UK.