Longspined Sea Urchins between Rocks, Diadema antillarum, Caribbean Sea, Dominica

Thorny Devil, Thorny Dragon, Mountain Devil, Thorny Lizard (Moloch horridus), feeding, desert, Outback, Northern Territory, Australia

Heart-shaped Cactus (Opuntia)

Thorny devil, thorny lizard (Moloch horridus), Northern Territory, Australia

European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in grass

Cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Cactaceae)

Cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Cactaceae)

Cactus (Helianthocereus huascha, Cactaceae)

Individual from the Gneckbisser masked group during the carnival procession, Littau, Lucerne, Switzerland, Europe

Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) hunting Glassy Sweepers (Pempheridae), Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean, Australia, Oceania

Spiny anteater Echidna Australia

Plant lice and an ant on a thistle stalk

Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), adult, Mount Lofty, South Australia, Australia, Oceania

Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), adult, foraging, Mount Lofty, South Australia, Australia, Oceania

Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) swims over coral reef in the backlight of the sun, Great Barrier Reef, Unesco World Heritage, Pacific, Australia, Oceania

Pectoral fin, Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) detail, Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage, Australia, Oceania

Jetty overgrown with stony corals, common lionfish (Pterois miles), Red Sea, Aqaba, Jordan, Asia

Female patient with physiotherapist doing exercises with ball

Thorny devil, thorny lizard (Moloch horridus), Northern Territory, Australia

Indian lionfish (Ptrois miles) swimming in the open sea, Red Sea, Aqaba, Kingdom of Jordan

Casa dos Bicos, Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

European hare (Lepus europaeus) pricks its ears, Easter hare, mammal, Oldenburg Muensterland, Germany, Europe

Colony of white-spotted diadem Black Longspine Urchin sp (Diadema setosum) on seagrass meadow, Red Sea, Aqaba, Kingdom of Jordan

An common lionfish (Pterois miles) lurks for prey, on sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Marsa Shuna reef dive site, Red Sea, Egypt, Africa

Cactus, Cactaceae (Pachycereus pringlei)

Mother-in-law chair (Echinocactus grusonii) or golden-ball cactus, cactus, spines, close-up, Botanical Garden, Dahlem, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Pricking finger with lancing device used by diabetic person for checking blood glucose sugar level

Zebra turkeyfish (Dendrochirus zebra), Andaman Sea, Thailand, Asia

Cactus growing in front of a volcanic rock wall

Cactus (Helianthocereus huascha, Cactaceae)

Cholla- and Organ Pipe cacti in the evening light, Organ Pipe National Monument

Euphorbia (Euphorbia canariensis) near Cofete, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Spiny Anteater or Echidna (Tachyglossidae) in the zoo of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

scorpion lies on the sand

Cactus in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA

Euphorbia (Euphorbia canariensis) near Cofete, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Detail of a Saguaro cactus

A metal cactus standing next to a Kranhaus building, Rheinau port, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Research assistants and technicians from the University of Ghana perform basic skin prick tests on school children in Accra, Ghana to test for sensitivities to dog, cat, dust mites, grass pollen, peanuts, and cockroach allergens. The results have shown that children in wealthier homes have higher rates of allergies and asthma than poorer children. The leading theory is that higher rates of helminth (parasite) infections among poorer children are affecting the immune system in a way that offers protection from allergies and asthma. The study aims to find out what the worms are doing, isolate the beneficial effect and replicate it.

Research assistants and technicians from the University of Ghana perform basic skin prick tests on school children in Accra, Ghana to test for sensitivities to dog, cat, dust mites, grass pollen, peanuts, and cockroach allergens. The results have shown that children in wealthier homes have higher rates of allergies and asthma than poorer children. The leading theory is that higher rates of helminth (parasite) infections among poorer children are affecting the immune system in a way that offers protection from allergies and asthma. The study aims to find out what the worms are doing, isolate the beneficial effect and replicate it.

violet sea urchin, Sphaerechinus granularis, Greece, Mediterranean Sea

Giant Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia echios, Ecuador, South America, Gal?pagos, Galapagos, Island, Plaza Sur

violet sea urchin with litter, Sphaerechinus granularis, Croatia, Istria, Mediterranean Sea

Dead violet sea urchin, Sphaerechinus granularis, Greece, Mediterranean Sea

Sea mouse, Aphrodita aculeata, Greece, Mediterranean Sea

Violet Sea Urchin, Sphaerechinus granularis, Istria, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Dead violet sea urchin, Sphaerechinus granularis, Greece, Mediterranean Sea

Roughtail stingray, Dasyatis centroura, British Virgin Islands, BVI, Caribbean Sea, Leeward Islands

Young Hedgehog sleeping on dead leaves, Corsica France

Plumose Anemones and Urchins, Pacific Ocean Alaska

Boyd's Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii)

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), an oviparous mammal of Australia. Short-beaked Echidnas feed on Ants and termites, the spiky coat, which can differ in color and density in Australia, is protecting the Echidna from predators. Australia, South Australia

American porcupine on bank, Denali NP Alaska

Violet Sea Urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis), Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic Ocean

American porcupine on pebbles, Denali NP Alaska

Close up of sea urchin in the Mediterranean sea

European hedgehog walking in the grass, Burgundy France

Santa Cruz marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus hassi)

American porcupine on pebbles, Denali NP Alaska

American porcupine on pebbles, Denali NP Alaska

Diadema sea urchin, Poor knights Island New Zealand