Watch: When threatened by predators, the short-horned lizard employs a unique—and terrifying—defense tactic. http://on.natgeo.com/1PPbZGO | National Geographic

The cloaca, also known as the vent, is a shared chamber in sharks where the intestines, urinary tract, and reproductive organs meet. It's like a one-stop shop for waste disposal and reproduction. For waste, everything from digested food to metabolic by-products exits through the cloaca. During mating, male sharks transfer sperm into the female's cloaca for fertilisation. Then, when it's time, females lay eggs or give birth through the same opening. Basically, the cloaca is a crucial hub for both