Animal camouflage is a combination of color, shape and behavior. This makes the animal less visible in the environment. Disguise is used as a means of defense against attack and as an opportunity to sneak up on the victim. Animal camouflage methods are very diverse.
Cryptic coloration
Cryptic coloration is a color in which the animal almost completely merges with the surrounding background. Green-colored animals live in green grass - lizards, caterpillars. Animals with a yellow or brown color are the inhabitants of the deserts - the desert locust, the saiga.
Many species of animals change color depending on the season. The white hare has pure white fur in winter, with the exception of the black tips of the ears. The color of the summer fur of the white hare varies from reddish-gray to gray. Interesting fact: in areas where there is no stable snow cover, the white hare does not turn white in winter.
In the process of individual development of the organism, some animals completely change color. For example, newborn seal puppies have white fur. In grown-up cubs, the color changes completely.
Some species of animals can change color in accordance with the background color. This coloration is achieved by redistributing pigments in the chromatophores of the body skin. Chromatophores are cells that contain pigment. Chromatophores are found in amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans and cephalopods. This method of masking is called physiological color change. Octopuses, chameleons, flounders can change the color of the coloring.
Cryptic coloration is usually combined with the technique of maintaining immobility. Animals instantly freeze, using grass, branches or shrubs as shelter. The background of the shelter is selected to match the color of the animal.
Disruptive or dismembered coloration
This type of coloring is distinguished by the presence of stripes and spots of contrasting color. Disruptive coloration disrupts the visual perception of the body contour, making the animal invisible against the background of light and shadow. The dismembered coloration can be combined with cryptic, that is, the color of the spots in the coloration of the animal coincides with the surrounding background. Disruptive coloration is characteristic of butterflies, beetles, lizards, chipmunks, zebras, tigers, and leopards.
Stealing coloration
Creeping coloration is a counter-shade effect, that is, brightly lit areas of the body are darker in color than poorly lit areas. With this color, the outlines of the animal merge with the background, the color seems more monotonous. Coloring "dark back - white belly" is inherent in most species of fish, birds and some species of mammals.
Mimicry of form
Mimicry of form are cases when animals acquire an extraordinary similarity in form with individual objects. Form mimicry is widespread in the insect world. The caterpillars of moth moths are similar to the branches of the trees on which they live. Tropical stick insects mimic dry sticks or tree leaves in their shape.
