Chelodine

/ˈkɛləˌdiːn/ noun

Definition

A toxic compound or alkaloid produced by certain chelodina turtles as a chemical defense mechanism.

Etymology

From Chelodina (the turtle genus) + '-ine' (chemical suffix). Named after the genus that produces this defensive compound.

Kelly Says

These turtles actually invented their own chemical weapons—they produce poisons that predators find so gross they immediately spit them out, which is nature's version of a 'do not eat' sign!

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