1. Mammals: Several mammals have spines, including hedgehogs, porcupines, echidnas, and tenrecs. Their spines are made of modified hair or specialized skin structures and serve as a defense mechanism against predators.
2. Fish: Many species of fish, including sharks, rays, and some bony fish like the lionfish, have spines. In fish, the spines are usually associated with the fins and serve various purposes, such as protection, defense, and stabilization.
3. Amphibians: Some amphibians, such as certain frogs and salamanders, have spines. These are typically bony protrusions or ridges found on their skin and serve as a defense mechanism.
4. Invertebrates: Various invertebrate animals also have spines. For instance:
- Sea urchins and sea stars (echinoderms): These marine invertebrates possess calcium-based spines as part of their external skeletons.
- Insects and spiders (arthropods): Some insects and spiders have spines or thorn-like projections on their bodies.
5. Spiny anteater: This small mammal found in Mexico and Central America has long, coarse hair that forms quill-like spines along its back.
6. Spined lizard: Several lizard species, including some iguanas, have spiny scales on their bodies.
It's important to note that the term "spine" can have slightly different meanings depending on the context and animal group. In some cases, it refers specifically to the vertebral column, while in others, it refers to various hard or pointed structures on the body surface, including quills, scales, or modified hairs.