Camouflage

Why Do Animals Use Camouflage?

Word of the Week

Countershading

Countershading is a type of camouflaged characterized by the top of an animal's body being darker than the underside. Scientists think this confuses other animals by distorting the appearance of the animal's shadow.

Gazelles, sharks, penguins, and turtles use countershading!

Species Spotlights

Leaf-Tailed Geckos | Genus: Uroplatus

Leaf-tailed geckos are named for… well, their leaf-like tail! This group of perfectly camouflaged geckos only lives in the forests of Madagascar. There are 22 species of leaf-tailed geckos. Some are designed to camouflage with leaves while others have colors and patterns that allow them to camouflage against tree bark. They spend the day hiding from predators like owls and snakes, then emerge at night time to hunt insects.

Tawny Frogmouth | Podargus strigoides

Though it may look like an owl, the tawny frogmouth is actually more closely related to a hummingbird. Tawny frogmouths are found in woodlands and savannas in Australia and Tasmania. During the day, tawny frogmouths may be found perched in a tree mimicking a broken tree branch. As the daylight fades, tawny frogmouths leave their resting spot in search of moths, spiders, worms, and slugs.

Stonefish | Genus: Synanceia

Like the leaf-tailed gecko, stonefish are also named for their appearance. Though you may mistake it for nothing more than a rock, stonefish are some of the most venomous fish in the world. When hunting or hiding from predators, they burrow themselves into the sand and hold perfectly still. If detected by a predator, they defend themselves with sharp, venomous spines on their back. This expert at camouflage is not a fish you would want to accidentally step on!

Conservation Corner

Color-Changing Conundrum

Most animals are perfectly designed for their ecosystem. For example, arctic foxes have adaptations that help them survive in the freezing tundra. Tundras are so cold that even the soil is frozen, so arctic foxes have developed traits to help them stay warm.

Arctic foxes have small ears and legs, which trap heat inside their body. They also have special fur that helps them camouflage. In the summer, they have thin, brown fur that blends into rocks and dirt. In the winter, their fur becomes thick and white, allowing them to blend into snow. Camouflage is important for arctic foxes since there are few places to hide from predators or sneak up on prey.

Most animals, including arctic foxes, would struggle to survive in a different ecosystem. Unfortunately, ecosystems all around the world are changing due to climate change. *For more information on climate change, please visit our Climate Change Adventure.

Temperatures in the Arctic are warming. Summers have gotten longer, while winters are shorter and warmer. Since winters start later than usual, some foxes turn white too early. Because snow is melting sooner in the spring, some foxes are still white even after the snow has melted. Without effective camouflage, arctic foxes and other color-changing animals struggle to avoid predators and sneak up on prey.

We can help stop and reverse the effects of climate change by…

-Reducing our energy use at home

-Decrease the amount of toys, clothes, shoes, etc. we buy (or buy previously used items instead!)

-Using public transportation or walking/riding a bike

BRAIN BLAST

Make a list of animals that change color with the season (hint: focus on mammals and reptiles). How would these animals be impacted if their environment changed?