A porcupine fish

Porcupine fish, like this member of the Diodon species, a native of the tropical seas, has the curious ability to puff up its body by swallowing air or water, until it becomes round like a ball.

In doing this they increase their size considerably, and thus significantly reduce the number of predators that might want to eat them.

In this way they become their own suit of armour. In addition, they deploy a further defence mechanism in the form of the numerous sharp spines that they are covered with. As if that wasn’t enough, some of the species of this fish possess a venomous substance (tetrodotoxine) in their skin and in their spines.

Needless to say, all this protective equipment contributes to the fact that these fish have very few natural predators. That said, sharks and whales can swallow the adult specimens whole.

While photographing this fish I recalled the words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:

“Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people (Ephesians 6:13-18).

We must learn to develop more spiritual resources in order to be able to live in a world replete with militantly sceptical and evil sharks!