Skull Island was home to a unique species of termites that built vast castle-like termites rivaling the biggest of the island's dinosaurs in size. A typical colony might house as many as five million individuals. Several species of dinosaur made use of the fiercely protective insects to combat skin parasites. Animals like Ferructus actively provoked the termites to swarm over their hides by rubbing themselves against termitaries. While their own skins were tough enough to withstand the termite's bites, unwelcome dermal parasites on their hides were not so lucky.