CAMOUFLAGE IN THE WILD Aristidis Nina Emilie June 2013
Introduction! 3 Do you Know How Reptiles Camouflage?! 4 Sources! 6 How Do Some Marine Life Camouflage?! 7 Sources! 8 How Do Some Mammals Camouflage?! 9 Sources! 11
Introduction If you think invisibility is the only way of hiding, then think again. In these amazing paragraphs, you will learn how camou<lage works. You will know how different marine life, mammals, and reptiles camou<lage. Turn the page to read more about the camou<lage world.
Do you Know How Reptiles Camou8lage? by Emilie Reptiles use a variety of ways to camou<lage themselves. By blending in with their surroundings, reptiles can hide from those hunting them or disguise themselves from their prey. Chameleons have special skin cells that allow them to change color. For example, some chameleons can change color in less than 10 seconds. A Shingleback Lizard uses its own body as camou<lage. The lizard s tail looks like its head. So when a predator tries to attack what it thinks is its head, the lizard can run away. The deadly Desert Adder, a snake that lives desert, has skin the color of sand. It buries itself in the sand with only its eyes showing in order to see its prey. In a completely opposite environment, the Marsupial Frog blends in with the rainforest <loor. Its brown skin is the color of the leaves on the ground. Near the ocean, the Marine Iguana blends in with the lava rocks. While on the rocks, it is safe from its predators. Some animals don t just blend in with their surroundings; they actually look like something in nature. A painted turtle tucks itself inside its shell and appears to be a rock, and a giant crocodile resembles a log <loating in the water. Reptiles camou<lage themselves by changing their skin color, blending
in with their surroundings, and using their body to appear to be something different.
Sources Hide and Seek by Andrea Helman Animal Disguises by Belinda Weber Stripes, Spots, or Diamonds by Patricia M. Stocklind Nature s Children (Crocodiles) by Peter Carver
How Do Some Marine Life Camou8lage? by Aristidis Marine life use a variety of techniques to camou<lage themselves, both from their predators and their prey. Some shrimp camou<lage by being transparent. This makes them appear invisible. Other shell<ish have evolved to look like their surroundings. For example, seahorses cling to coral that look like their shell. The Spider Crab mimics the seaweed in which it crawls around, while the Coral Crab resembles broken coral. Doesn t that rock look like it has eyes? The Scorpion Fish looks like the rocky part of the ocean in which it swims. Another underwater creature, the octopus, can change its color pigments to match its surroundings. Reptiles that live near the water use their shells and shells to camou<lage. When the Marine Iguana climbs out of the water, it will lay on volcanic rock. This igneous rock looks just like the iguana s skin. A Sea Turtle will swim near seaweed where its shell appears like a lump of seaweed. The Sea Otter, a mammal, uses a similar camou<lage technique. Its sleek, dark body blends in with the kelp around it. These are just a few of the many different ways that creatures disguise themselves in their marine habitat.
Sources Hide and Seek Nature s Best Vanishing Acts by Andrea Helman Animal Disguises by Belinda Weber Camou?lage Changing to Hide by Bobbie Kalaman What are Nature s Copycats by Bobbie Kalaman Nature s Children Crabs by Jen Green
How Do Some Mammals Camou8lage? by Nina Some mammals are masters of camou<lage. The unique colors or patterns of their coats blend in with their surroundings. Meerkats shiny, golden fur helps them blend in with the golden ground of the desert. Sloths have green, shaggy hair that blends in to the green leaves. They use this camou<lage to catch bugs! One of the largest mammals, the Polar Bear, has to hide in order to sneak up on its prey. The Polar Bear s white coat blends in with the crystal, white snow. To completely camou<lage, the Polar Bear will put its furry, white paw over its nose. Zebras stripes seem to blend together. So in a predator s eyes, there is one big zebra monster!
Is there another source of camou<lage? Yes! Mammals also use shade to camou<lage. For example, a giraffe s dark spots look like shade and help them hide in the shining sun of their African Savanna home. Big cats also use shade to camou<lage. Leopards spots allow them to blend in with the dark shadows of the leaves, and tigers stripes make it easier for them to hide in the tall grass of their tropical home.
Sources Spots, Stripes, or Diamonds - A Book About Animal Patterns by Patricia M. Stockland Animal Disguises by Belinda Weber Hide and Seek - Natures Best Vanishing Acts by Andrea Helman