The Sand Dollar - The Animal That Can Clone Itself

image credit

Bizarre, but true. A few years ago scientists discovered that the larvae of the Sand dollar are able to clone themselves. When they were exposed to the mucus of their natural enemies - fish - they demonstrated a unique defense mechanism.

Sand dollars cloned themselves which meant more or less that they halved their size. It is thought that this new smaller size helps them to avoid detection by fish and so increase their survival chances.

(thanks Robert-John)