The nature of the color of animals of different species is very diverse. Among the representatives of the animal world, there are owners of surprisingly bright and, conversely, modest colors. Many living creatures have coloration that helps them to be invisible in their permanent habitat. There are also many that "repaint" depending on the season or the state of the environment.
Instructions
Step 1
The idea of the possibility of color change by animals in most people is associated with a chameleon. Indeed, everyone knows about the ability to quickly change the color and pattern of the skin of these animals. This is not an environmental disguise, as many believe. In fact, the body of a chameleon has a unique ability to "recolor" depending on the temperature regime, light environment and even mood.
Step 2
Even ancient people drew attention to the unique feature of the chameleon to change color, only they could not explain why this happens. The nature of the phenomenon associated with a change in color was able to establish the research of scientists. It turns out that the color behavior of an animal depends on pigment cells - a chromatophore (translated from Greek - "carrying paint"). These cells are directly connected to the animal's nervous system and play a major role in the color of the chameleon's skin.
Step 3
Color change can occur as a result of physiological factors such as light, ambient temperature and humidity, pain or hunger. Aggressiveness when meeting other representatives of the animal world or fear are emotional stimuli that act on chromatophores. Biologists have established a close relationship between the ability to change skin color and vision. Commands to the "paint-bearing" cells come primarily from the optic nerve, and if it is damaged, the amazing ability to change color is lost.
Step 4
Color change in the environment of animals is widespread. First of all, a quick change in color behavior is characteristic of cold-blooded animals. Unable to produce their own heat, many crustaceans, octopuses, squids, frogs, lizards, some species of fish and insects possess chromatophores responsible for changing the color of the skin and eyes.
Step 5
Among the representatives of the northern and temperate zones, there are a considerable number of animals, the change in the hiding color of which directly depends on the season. For example, the blue fox's outfit, which is ideal for the tundra, helps it become invisible in the snow. The dark, brownish color helps the animal hide among tundra plants and lichens during the summer season.
Step 6
Throughout the year, some forest animals perfectly adapt to the environmental conditions, possessing the ability to change the color of the coat. White fur for a hare (only the tips of the ears are gray) is an excellent means of camouflage in winter, and with the onset of summer this animal becomes brownish-gray. The ginger squirrel adapts to the colors of winter nature, changing into a light gray fur coat. The ability to change the color of the coat is inherent in the weasel and ermine. As a result of spring and autumn molting, the color of animals is spotty, matching the variegated natural landscape.
Step 7
In the world of insects, there are also owners of seasonal coloration. For example, leaflets are difficult to spot among the foliage of trees. They are green in summer, and autumn changes the color of insect wings to brownish yellow. The caterpillars of the shuttle butterfly living on the oak adapt to seasonal changes, which in spring resemble buds in pink, in summer they do not differ from leaves in green, and in autumn they acquire the color of oak bark.
