Amazing Animal Camouflage: Beware, I’m Spying on You! Can’t You See Me?
The technique of camouflage is used by the animals for survival purposes and to avoid being captured by the predators. These masters of disguise demonstrate their unique, amazing and diverse camouflage ability to adapt themselves in their respective environmental habitats.
Camouflage is a method that animals use to deceive their predators by either adjusting their coloration, blending themselves with the environmental surrounding, or hiding in order to maintain their survivals and to hide from the captivity of the predators.
Pygmy Sea Horses
These pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) are masters of disguise. They camouflage perfectly that you may have ignored of their existence. They’re only observed on gorgonians (sea fans) of the genus Muricella.
Cheetah
Can you spot a cheetah from this picture? No doubt, he’s beautifully camouflaged amongst this dry grass. Beware; this cheetah is fixing his eyes on something beyond! This most primitive of cats is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 100km/hour over a short distance.
Spider
Look closely! Something is moving!
Dead Leaf Mantis
This dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys desiccate) is well camouflaged amongst some leaf litter, almost invisible.
Leaf Insect
This leaf insect (from the family of Phylliidae) is demonstrating its excellent ability to blend with the color of the leaf. It is one of the best examples of leaf mimic.
Leaf-mimic Katydid
This leaf mimic katydid is very well-camouflaged with a dying leaf. It just looks like a decomposing leaf. Its exceptional resemblance to a decomposing leaf is remarkable and this helps to trick its preyfor as its potential meal.
Phyllium Giganteum
This is another leaf insect (Phyllium giganteum) which shows a perfect leaf imitation. The mimicking skill enables this species to camouflage itself amongst the leaves very well.
Cuttlefish
Unlike other cuttlefish, this cuttlefish is very unusual as it can change its color and texture to defend itself from being attacked. Like other sea creatures, this cuttlefish must learn to protect itself from any potential dangers.
Robust Ghost Pipefish
This robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) is particularly fond of blending itself deep down the seabed. Like octopus, nudibranchs, cuttlefish and other marine life, learning to hide is a compulsory lesson for this incredible animal. It just looks like a blade of sea glass, which shows the best camouflage found in nature.
Indonesians Mimic Octopus
This Indonesian mimic octopus is just like a miraculous creature. It has an extraordinary talent to turn virtually any color or pattern by taking on the features and shapes of other animals or surroundings. Though it looks spotted and brown, but it can mystically change from ghost white to brilliant blue or mysterious pink or fiery red. This ability seems not to be owned by many octopi which are known to change their texture or color.
Toad
You can see a toad in almost every place. The toad is good at using its mimicry camouflage to adapt within the natural environment where it’s dwelt in. The coloration enables it to blend perfectly with dead wood or leaf litter on the forest floor. When it’s half buried within the leaf litter, this toad is virtually invisible. As a predatory, the toad uses its camouflage to effectively capture its prey.
Butterfly
The wings of this butterfly look like leaves particularly when they’re folded up. This butterfly looks brilliant as it knows how to make use of its leaf-like wings as camouflage against its prey.
Ibex
Ibex is a species of wild goat found primarily on slopes and rocks, and on high mountain meadows of Europe, north eastern part of Africa and Asia. They’ve huge back-curving horns. Could you spot the three hidden Ibexes in this picture? They’re well camouflaged among the steep rocky slopes of a mountainous habitat, aren’t they?
Pink Soft Coral Crab
This pink soft coral crabs or Hoplophrys oatesii crabs are about 0.5cm in size. They camouflage pretty well in their hosts by eating the polyps and by pulling branches over their bodies. Their color is almost the same as the surrounding polyps as they match perfectly with them until it’s almost impossible to see the crabs in this picture.
Flounder
Flounder is a flatfish that dwells on the bottom of the ocean. It’s another wonderful master of camouflage and it blends perfectly with the mud or sand. While burying its body beneath the sand or mud, it’ll feed on anything swimming close to it.
Rock Ptarmigan Chick
This rock ptarmigan chick is usually well camouflaged in its surroundings. It may just use its “cunning trick” to disappear from the sight.
Flower Crab Spider
Flower crab spider (Misumena) is a fascinating spider that uses its body to protect and camouflage itself. You could hardly look for flower crab spider as it hides perfectly among the flowers.
Flathead Fish
This flathead fish prefers to burry itself in the mud bottom or weed-free sand for camouflage, leaving only its eyes poking out above the sand or mud.
Wobbegong
Wobbegong camouflages while waiting for its prey. The cryptic coloration of lines, blotches, spots and the unique lobes of skin on the side of its head also help it camouflaging deep down the seabed.
Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard
This flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma m’callii) camouflages almost perfect with the sand color. This natural camouflage helps this iguana-like reptile to survive in desert terrain particularly to avoid itself from being detected by the predator.
Scorpion Fish
This spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumier) displays the camouflage with the coral reef. While staying in motionless, it lies to wait for prey to swim by and then it’ll swallow its target by lunging forward. The natural camouflage also helps this animal to hide among surrounding rocks or algae by just adjusting its coloration.
Green Lynx Spider
The bright green coloration helps green lynx spider camouflage when it’s in foliage. This excellent camouflage helps it to blend well with the environment. This hunter then uses this camouflage to hide among shrubs and flowers and to ambush its prey including bees, moths, and butterflies.
Blue Ringed Octopus
The Blue Ringed Octopus uses its camouflage to hide among the rocks. Whenever it’s threatened, the small iridescent blue rings will appear all over the surface of its skin that is served as a warning to its predator.
Leafy Sea Dragon
Sea creature like leafy sea dragon also likes to blend with the surrounding, just like his other companions dwelling underwater. It mimics a bunch of undulating undersea fronds which can camouflage extremely well amongst sea weeds and corals.
Now, you can read more of my works at my blog ScienceQuest.
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127 Responses to “Amazing Animal Camouflage: Beware, I’m Spying on You! Can’t You See Me?”
On March 26, 2009 at 11:17 am
Great research.They are very amazing. I like the pics too.
Monica
On March 26, 2009 at 11:38 am
Wow, this was great! So interesting, and very detailed. I also loved the pics! great job
On March 26, 2009 at 12:00 pm
WOW..!!!! Amazing Pictures Chan.. Good job…
On March 26, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I couldn’t see the cheetah or the ibex at first! Great article, very well researched as always.
On March 26, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Interesting and informative.
On March 26, 2009 at 1:39 pm
What a fun, interesting, cool, unique article CHAN! Nice work!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
On March 26, 2009 at 1:46 pm
That is such a fascinating article. Some of these creatures look really
weird when you can make them out. Fantastic pictures as well.
Christine
On March 26, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Awesome photos, nature is just so amazing. My son loved spotting all the creatures!
On March 26, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Another fascinating read with vivid pics. I especially like the insects that look like leaves….it doesnt get much smarter than that.
On March 26, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Love this! Great article and pictures!
On March 26, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Nature takes care of these creatures. You must look close if you want to see one of these cuties.
On March 26, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Chan,
i enjoyed reading this piece. I added this to reddit, digg and buzz.
On March 26, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Woah, amazing stuff! Great Article.
On March 26, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Awesome job. I loved looking for the creatures. Bookmarked on my wikizine.
On March 26, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Awesome article and pictures.
On March 26, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I missed you Chan. You’re back with a vengeance!
On March 26, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Amazing! Great post, Chan.
On March 26, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Great article with pictures. Interesting concept.
On March 26, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Yes, amazing is the right word to describe the camouflage. Great research and presentation, Chan.
On March 27, 2009 at 1:21 am
thanks….that was very educative and informative.
On March 27, 2009 at 6:10 am
interesting…interesting…I only know seahorse will change colour to protect themselves …and also…I was aware that seahorse male is the one who get pregnant…
But aside from that– never knew that Cheetah is also a master of disguise….and the rest of those animals….and insects…It’s so good to read and learn something new…
Well written, as usual.
On March 27, 2009 at 11:31 am
Outstanding, well researched, well written and fun article. Thanks for sharing.
On March 27, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Fascinating article, Chan! Excellent display of research and photo’s!
On March 27, 2009 at 5:53 pm
witty animals
On March 28, 2009 at 9:23 pm
wow! these animals have definitely adapted!
On March 29, 2009 at 10:30 am
that was awesome… i almost can’t see them…
On March 30, 2009 at 9:31 am
Your informative articles never cease to amaze me. What wonderful discoveries!
Thanks for sharing.
On April 1, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Great piece, loved the pics!
Thanks,
Clay
On April 2, 2009 at 11:11 am
wonderful! amazing work! That was interesting and well presented article..lovely and informative too. I liked it! Keep it up. Well done and thanx for sharing..nice pics as well
On April 5, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Unbelievable, it makes my eyes look ugly.
On April 11, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I love the pictures. They are stunning. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful nature is. Very informative article. Thank you.
On April 23, 2009 at 10:56 am
that was boring
On April 23, 2009 at 10:58 am
i don’t agree hi. i think that was awesome
On April 23, 2009 at 10:59 am
i dont care what you think butt face
On April 23, 2009 at 11:01 am
food why food i already know how to build a perfect sandwitch
On April 23, 2009 at 4:40 pm
yum i just made a yummy sandwitch
On April 23, 2009 at 4:42 pm
why are you so happy buttface
On April 23, 2009 at 4:50 pm
cause i can Swetty
On April 23, 2009 at 4:52 pm
DON’T CALL ME THAT YOU ARE ALL BUTT FACES
On April 23, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Just shutup kid the presatent of sandwitches
On April 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm
yeah right sandwitch girl
On April 23, 2009 at 5:08 pm
hi hi
On April 23, 2009 at 5:09 pm
you are some blahh
On April 23, 2009 at 5:11 pm
be quiet hi
On April 23, 2009 at 5:12 pm
hello alyssa
On April 23, 2009 at 5:13 pm
hi club penguin
On April 23, 2009 at 5:14 pm
shut up hi
On April 23, 2009 at 5:14 pm
you Butt Faces
On April 23, 2009 at 5:16 pm
SHUT UP HI
On April 24, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Your article is well written. Your pictures are great.
On April 24, 2009 at 6:53 pm
dear hi,
you are very annoying!!! ha ha Hi Alyssa, I can’t believe you got in a fight with someone named hi. I will talk to you about at school. and what’s up with the sandwitches? GREAT ARTICLE!!!
On April 27, 2009 at 4:40 pm
hi polar girl
On April 27, 2009 at 4:42 pm
hi do you like cheese
On April 27, 2009 at 4:43 pm
hi shells!!! whats up?
On April 27, 2009 at 4:46 pm
haha yes i do like cheese!! do you?
On April 27, 2009 at 4:47 pm
cheese cheese i like cheese
On April 27, 2009 at 4:47 pm
of course you do
On April 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm
so shells what are you doing?
On April 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm
i love cheese
On April 27, 2009 at 4:50 pm
okay then, you are strange shells. i hope you know that you are weird.
On April 27, 2009 at 4:50 pm
im looking at you
On April 27, 2009 at 4:52 pm
i do
On April 27, 2009 at 4:52 pm
WHAT??? how are you looking at me? Alyssa is on the phone with me and she said your weird.
On April 27, 2009 at 4:55 pm
i see you
On April 27, 2009 at 4:55 pm
you make no sense. i don’t understand what you mean
On April 27, 2009 at 4:56 pm
how dere she
On April 27, 2009 at 4:59 pm
she was kidding. i think she was trying to be funny. ha SHE HAS SWINE FLU!
On April 27, 2009 at 5:04 pm
by i have home work
On April 27, 2009 at 5:08 pm
okay, call me when you get done. hopefully Alyssa doesn’t get mad that I said she has Swine Flu. ALYSSA I AM KIDDING SO DON”T GET MAD BECAUSE THE GAME WAS A JOKE WE WEREN”T TRYING TO BE MEAN!!!
On April 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm
alyssa please dont get mad at polar girl because i dont like when you gis get in fights.
On April 27, 2009 at 6:50 pm
see Alyssa we don’t want to be mean and lets not get into a fight because we are sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry.
we are very sorry Alyssa. please forgive us.
On April 27, 2009 at 6:50 pm
POLAR GRIL IS SORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORY
On April 27, 2009 at 6:52 pm
shells is also sorry even though she hasn’t said it. SAY SORRY SHELLS!! I have been saying sorry instead of you! say sorry too.
On April 27, 2009 at 6:55 pm
i am sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry im sorry alyssa i did not mean to heart your feelings
On April 27, 2009 at 6:59 pm
you are crazy shells!!
On April 27, 2009 at 7:02 pm
im sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry
On April 27, 2009 at 7:06 pm
im not mad at you guys i accepted your apolage a long time ago
On April 27, 2009 at 7:08 pm
what are you mad at now
On April 27, 2009 at 7:09 pm
im not
On April 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm
hi you are my worst enamy
On April 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm
none of your buisness hi. you are the mean one here.
On April 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm
hi ALSSA
On April 27, 2009 at 7:12 pm
shells i like your attatud
On April 27, 2009 at 7:14 pm
alyssa are you or not im consused
On April 27, 2009 at 7:14 pm
sheesh hi you don’t need to be mean to me and Alyssa but be nice to shells!
On April 27, 2009 at 7:18 pm
dont be mean to us hi
On April 27, 2009 at 7:20 pm
umm hi are you a boy or a girl?
On April 27, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Im not hi hes my worst enamy here dude
On April 27, 2009 at 7:22 pm
what do you think im a boy i got the thing in front
On April 27, 2009 at 7:22 pm
hi alyssa this is your BFF
On April 27, 2009 at 7:24 pm
you guys know this isn’t a chat room it’s a animal camouflage page. your supossed to type your comments about the pictures, duh
On April 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm
nice attical you put alot of work into it
On April 27, 2009 at 7:26 pm
OMG ALLISON IS ON
On April 27, 2009 at 7:29 pm
allison is this jessica
On April 27, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Dear AbbyRocks,
we can do whateva we want so please don’t tell us what this is because it’s not like we’re stupid I mean don’t you think we know what kind of website this is.
On April 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm
well “polar girl” (what kind of name is that) I think you are to blind to know what kind of website this is. I also think your too stupid to find a good name.
go dig a hole and die.
On April 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm
yeah serislwe read note #93
On April 27, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Abbyrocks you need to dig a hole and die
On April 27, 2009 at 7:37 pm
you guys are so retarded!
On April 27, 2009 at 7:38 pm
you need to dig a hole and die Alyssa
On April 27, 2009 at 7:40 pm
you do hi
On April 27, 2009 at 7:44 pm
On April 27, 2009 at 7:52 pm
you should all dig a hole and die
On April 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm
im NOT ALLISON
On April 27, 2009 at 8:51 pm
umm why would shells be Alison?
On April 27, 2009 at 8:55 pm
AbbyRocks what is your problem with me? why do you need to attack me? and hi what is your problem with EVERYONE? and also AbbyRocks why don’t you take your own advice and dig your own hole and die!
On April 27, 2009 at 8:58 pm
OMG so you say I attack you when you got your stupid friends to attack me! you suck and need to build a fire, fall, and burn!
p.s. i like you hi!
On April 28, 2009 at 8:30 am
they aren’t attacking you and they aren’t stupid you are. I never told them to attack you and you are trying to be innocent.
why would I be stupid enough to build a fire then fall then burn? grow up already.
On April 28, 2009 at 10:51 am
i hate you AbbyRocks
On April 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm
i dont like you ether abby
On April 28, 2009 at 4:36 pm
You go girl
On April 28, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I hate you Evry one besids you are you open for a date on saturday if you are meet me at the mall at 5:30
On April 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
hi finaly found a date ahhhhhh
On April 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm
not yet i just like her attatud
On April 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm
hi you are gross
On April 28, 2009 at 4:51 pm
How many girls do you like?
On April 28, 2009 at 4:53 pm
hi you shound like a Jerk
On April 28, 2009 at 4:54 pm
this is for comments not for fun
On April 28, 2009 at 4:55 pm
this is for chatting
On April 28, 2009 at 4:56 pm
anwer my hi
On April 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm
fine i like 1,239,485,679,999
On April 28, 2009 at 4:58 pm
fine i like 1,239,485,679,999
On April 28, 2009 at 4:59 pm
On April 28, 2009 at 5:01 pm
On April 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm
helo im back dident miss me
On May 2, 2009 at 7:55 pm
no
On May 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm
hello
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