How living things launch projectiles

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE, in nature at least, because speed often involves spending too much energy in a short amount of time.

- JV CHAMARY

But some vital activities – such as capturing prey, defence and reproduction - do require sudden, explosive actions through ballistic movement.

What is ballistics?

You've probably heard the word on TV shows when police match bullets to a gun, but ballistics is actually the study of how any object - including a projectile launched by an animal, plant or fungus - is rapidly propelled by mechanical force.

What do animals fire?

Solid projectiles are typically body parts (very few species are able to launch foreign objects, such as spears thrown by humans). Though porcupines shooting quills is a myth, some animals can launch spines: Cnidaria, the diverse group of aquatic invertebrates that includes anemones, corals and jellyfish, have cells called cnidocytes that sting food or foes by firing needles laced with toxins.