Animal Powers
Flash the tongue.
Animals grouped here express a similar power through their behavior in nature. Each species still has its own principle, lesson, meaning, and field-guide page.
6 species
Species principle: Bluff
Flash the tongue.
A sudden signal can end a fight before it begins.
Blue-tongued Skinks use a bright blue tongue display, body flattening, hissing, and open-mouth postures to startle or warn predators when threatened.
Species principle: Wide-Mouth Boundary
Warn wide.
A dramatic signal can prevent contact when a small body must defend space.
Budgett's Frogs are aquatic frogs known for large mouths, defensive postures, loud calls, and sudden threat displays when disturbed.
Species principle: Hood Bluff
Widen the warning.
A well-timed warning can make danger hesitate before force is needed.
False Water Cobras flatten the neck in a cobra-like display and use size, movement, and rear-fanged venom as part of their defensive and predatory strategy.
Species principle: Frilled Threshold
Raise the frill.
Display can prevent conflict by changing the size of the moment.
Frilled Dragons open a large neck frill, gape, and may run bipedally when threatened, using sudden visual expansion as defense.
Species principle: Crested Display
Raise the ghost wings.
A quiet walker can still become dramatic when the moment asks.
Kagu are flightless forest birds of New Caledonia that use crest raising, wing displays, and ground movement during courtship and territorial or threat behavior.
Species principle: Wax-Wing Signal
Flash the pattern.
Visual identity can create attention before usefulness is understood.
Lanternflies are planthoppers with striking wings and jumping movement; several species use bold coloration and plant-feeding life histories.
