Cacti spines, snake fangs, snail love darts – oh my! How function drives the evolution of nature’s puncture tools

What do cacti spines and wasp stingers have in common? What about snail genitalia and shark teeth?

By: Philip Anderson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 8, 2026

Words: 977

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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By Philip Anderson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Most people probably aren’t thinking about the complexity of nature when they get stung by a bee or prick their thumb on a rose. They are probably just thinking, “Ouch, that hurts!”

Even at this level of interaction, however, it is obvious not all things in nature that poke you are created equal. The rose prickle may draw blood, while the bee sting can leave an itchy rash.

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