Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish are related to pufferfish but rely primarily on mechanical rather than chemical defense. Their spines normally lie flat, but when the fish inflates, the spines erect into a threatening ball of points. The inflation itself is defensive (too large to swallow), and the spines add immediate physical consequence to any biting attempt. Unlike pufferfish, most porcupinefish don't carry significant tetrodotoxin - they rely on the physical deterrent.

The mechanical defense scales with effort. Small bites encounter small resistance. Determined attacks encounter more spines as the fish inflates further. The maximum defense deploys only against maximum threat. This proportional response conserves energy (inflation is metabolically costly) while ensuring adequate defense against actual threat levels. The fish doesn't maintain maximum defense constantly; it escalates as needed.

For business, porcupinefish represent proportional defensive responses that scale with threat intensity. Early competitive incursions might trigger minor defensive measures (price matching, feature additions). Serious attacks trigger stronger responses (patent litigation, regulatory complaints). Existential threats trigger maximum deployment (war chests, nuclear options). The proportional approach conserves resources - maintaining maximum defense constantly would be exhausting. But the capacity for escalation must be credible. Competitors must believe the spines will erect before they test them.