Spines, Shields, Sprays, Swords, and Stripes: The Evolution of Mammalian Defenses and Coloration

Name: Spines, Shields, Sprays, Swords, and Stripes: The Evolution of Mammalian Defenses and Coloration
Start: 2026-03-11T02:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-11T03:00:00+00:00

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 7:00 PM PDT – 8:00 PM PDT

Santa Ana, California

Hosted by The Social Study

Spines, Shields, Sprays, Swords, and Stripes: The Evolution of Mammalian Defenses and Coloration

📅 Tuesday, March 10, 2026⏰ Talk at 7:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)📍 Santa Ana — Orange County 🧠 Featuring Ted Stankowich, PhD, professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Long Beach. His research examines how mammals survive predation through physical defenses, chemical deterrents, and visual signals. Drawing on examples from across the animal kingdom, Stankowich explores how evolutionary pressure shapes spines, armor, sprays, and stripes, what these defenses cost, and how warning signals like coloration influence survival, design, and behavior.