Wilderness Images

October 8, 2008

CAMOUFLAGE IN NATURE

I have always been on the lookout for photographs of different animals using camouflage to hide themselves in their environment. Because most living creatures on earth are food for other creatures,  the use of camouflage has developed as a successful way of not being noticed, and therefore not being someone else’s dinner. On the other side of that coin, many predators also employ camouflage as a means of avoiding detection by their prey.  Probably the greatest example of the use of camouflage is the chameleon that can change not only its color but its patterns as well, to better blend into its environment.  We have a creature here in Michigan that also has this amazing ability. The grey tree-frog can appear a mottled grey to match the bark of a tree like the one pictured below.  It can also become a uniform medium green and blend in with the foliage as well.

Here are some examples of different creatures using camouflage to blend in with their environment.

CAMOUFLAGE GREY TREE-FROG
CAMOUFLAGE SPIDER
CAMOUFLAGE SCREECH OWL
CAMOUFLAGE MOTH

Photos matching each category


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