Quck answer
Camouflage is a common survival tactic among animals. Here are 11 animals that use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings:
1. Chameleon
2. Leaf-tailed Gecko
3. Arctic Fox
4. Cuttlefish
5. Stonefish
6. Octopus
7. Walking Stick Insect
8. Katydid
9. Snow Leopard
10. Horned Owl
11. Sea Horse
Animal Facts
Can you spot the small shrimp hiding among the stinging tentacles of a sea anemone? Check out more photos of mysterious marine animals.
Timothy G. Laman/National Geographic/Getty Images
The animal kingdom is a diverse and unpredictable place where animals have to develop unique adaptations to survive. One of the most remarkable techniques for survival is animal camouflage. Animals can mimic plants, ground cover, or even other animals to hide or hunt. Here are some animals that are particularly skilled in the art of blending in.
1. Chameleons
Despite what many people believe, chameleons only change color when in danger. Their everyday skin color, a light khaki, helps them stay hidden from predators during less dangerous situations. Almost half of the world’s chameleon species live in Madagascar, but they can also be found in Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe.
2. Leopards
Leopards are naturally camouflaged with their spotted coats, which help them blend into sun-dappled areas in the African outback. Black leopards are especially effective at night, allowing them to stalk prey undetected. Rabbits, young buffalo, and monkeys are no match for a stealthy leopard’s surprise attack.
3. Polar Bears
Other bears and human hunters pose the greatest threat to majestic polar bears, but their white fur coats help them blend into the snowy Arctic landscape. Only a polar bear’s nose and paw pads are without fur.
4. Turtles
Hundreds of species of turtles and tortoises use camouflage to ambush prey and hide from predators like alligators. If you’re a fish, you better watch out before resting near that big rock – it could be a snapping turtle. Sadly, camouflage can’t protect turtles from being caught in poachers’ nets.
While chameleons are well-known for changing color, some of the animals on the following pages use camouflage in surprising ways.
5. Arctic Owls
In the cold, white expanse of the Arctic tundra, arctic owls’ snow-white feathers keep them warm and hidden from predators like foxes and wolves.
6. Bark Bugs
Bark bugs, which live on trees worldwide, blend in seamlessly with their surroundings by appearing to be part of the tree itself. This helps them hide from predators like birds.
7. Ornate Wobbegongs
Ornate wobbegongs, found in the shallow waters off Australia and New Guinea, have a body that flattens out on the seafloor, making their spots and blotchy lines look like rocks and coral. These sharks even have a “beard” under their chins that looks like seaweed, allowing them to sneak up on prey undetected.
8. Gaboon Vipers
Gaboon vipers, one of the most venomous snakes on Earth, use their brownish-gray, mottled scales to blend into the layer of dead leaves on the floor of African rainforests. They also hide in forest floor peat to ambush unsuspecting prey.
9. Leaf Butterflies
Leaf butterflies, native to southeast Asia, have mastered the art of camouflage with their fake leaf stalk, fake leaf veins, and perfect dead-leaf coloring. Their appearance tricks birds into believing that they are dead leaves rather than butterflies, allowing them to go unnoticed.
10. Dragon Lizards
Dragon lizards possess some of the most effective camouflage in the animal kingdom. Their ability to blend in with their surroundings and remain virtually invisible to predators is aided by their stillness, as even the slightest movement can give them away. While it may not be the most exciting life, it undoubtedly helps them to survive.
11. Flower Mantises
Hidden in plain sight, flower mantises from western Africa use their colorful, pistil-and-stamen-like camouflage to lure unsuspecting insects into becoming their next meal. These masters of disguise use their appearance to their advantage, making them a formidable predator in the insect world.
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WRITTEN BY:
Helen Davies, Marjorie Dorfman, Mary Fons, Deborah Hawkins, Martin Hintz, Linnea Lundgren, David Priess, Julia Clark Robinson, Paul Seaburn, Heidi Stevens, and Steve Theunissen
FAQ
1. What is camouflage and how do animals use it?
Camouflage is the ability of an animal to blend into its surroundings, making it difficult to spot by predators or prey. Animals use camouflage to hide from predators, sneak up on prey, or to protect their young. Some animals have evolved to look like their environment, such as the chameleon that can change the color of its skin to match the tree it is sitting on.
2. What are some examples of animals that use camouflage?
There are many animals that use camouflage, including the chameleon, octopus, tree frog, walking stick, and snowshoe hare. These animals have adapted over time to blend in with their environment, making them less visible to predators or prey.
3. How does the octopus use camouflage?
The octopus is a master of camouflage and can change its skin color and texture to match its surroundings. It can also mimic the texture of objects, such as rocks or coral, making it almost invisible to predators or prey.
4. Why do walking sticks use camouflage?
Walking sticks use camouflage to avoid predators. They look like sticks or twigs, making it difficult for predators to spot them. They also have the ability to stay perfectly still for long periods of time, making them even harder to see.
5. How does the snowshoe hare use camouflage?
The snowshoe hare changes the color of its fur depending on the season. In the winter, its fur is white to blend in with the snow, and in the summer, it turns brown to match the forest floor. This allows the hare to remain hidden from predators year-round.
6. What is disruptive coloration?
Disruptive coloration is a type of camouflage where an animal has markings that break up its outline, making it harder for predators to see it. For example, a leopard has spots that blend into the dappled light of the forest, making it harder for prey to spot it.
7. How do animals use mimicry as a form of camouflage?
Some animals use mimicry to look like other animals or objects in their environment. For example, the mimic octopus can change its shape and color to look like a snake, a lionfish, or a sea anemone, depending on what it needs to blend in with. This allows it to avoid predators or sneak up on prey.
8. How do animals use countershading as a form of camouflage?
Countershading is where an animal is darker on its upper side and lighter on its lower side, making it harder for predators to see it from above or below. For example, a shark is gray on its upper side and white on its lower side, making it blend in with the water from both angles.
9. How do animals use camouflage to protect their young?
Some animals use camouflage to protect their young from predators. For example, the mother polar bear will dig a den in the snow and cover the entrance with snow to hide her cubs from predators. The cubs have white fur, which blends in with the snow, making them harder to spot.
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