The Masters Of Natural Camouflage

Written by Lex Basu
Updated: September 27, 2022
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The ability to blend into their surrounding environment is vital for the survival of numerous animal species around the world. Camouflage is one of nature’s best defenses as it allows animals to go completely unseen in their natural habitats, both helping to protect them from being eaten by predators and allowing them to sneak up on potential prey, without being spotted.


There are a number of ways that animals have used camouflage to adapt to their surrounding environments, with the most common example being that of some Chameleons having the ability to actually change color. Most species though have evolved to have certain colorations and markings or even a special body shape, that help them to blend into their surroundings and here are some of nature’s finest examples:

An Arctic fox standing attentively in a snowy habitat.

The

Arctic fox

has white fur in winter months to blend in with its surroundings.

©JoannaPerchaluk/Shutterstock.com

A flounder laying flat on the sandy ocean floor.

The

flounder’s

scales act as camouflage that makes it difficult for both predators and prey to detect it against the muddy or sandy ocean bottom.

©Becky Gill/Shutterstock.com

An octopus blending in with the surrounding reef habitat.

Octopuses

can change the color of their skin as a common defense tactic that is used to help evade predators.

©NaturePhoto/Shutterstock.com

An okapi walking through a forested area.

The

Okapi’s

coloration along with the horizontal, white striped markings on their hind quarters and legs provide it with excellent camouflage in the dense jungle.

©Jiri Hrebicek/Shutterstock.com

A lion crouching in tall grass.

Lions

have light markings on their coats which help them go unseen when stalking prey in long grass.

©Kjersti Joergensen/Shutterstock.com

A pool frog sitting on the edge of a pond surrounded by vegetation.

The

pool frog’s

camouflage colors allow it to blend in with the environment and evade hungry predators.

©PaulSat/Shutterstock.com

Summary

Here is a list of animals that are good at blending in:

NumberAnimal Name
1Arctic Fox
2Flounder Fish
3Oktopus
4Okapi
5Lions
6Pool Frog

Next Up…

The photo featured at the top of this post is © ennar0/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Lex is a green-living, tree-hugging, animal-lover, who at one time was the mother to twenty one felines and one doggo. Now she helps pet owners around the globe be the best caretakers for their most trusting companions by sharing her experience and spreading love.

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Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals