Sunday, April 7, 2013

Amazing camouflaged animals (2)

Katydid

If you don't immediately see both katydids in this photo, don't feel bad. Their leaflike bodies also help them evade countless birds, frogs, snakes and other predators around the world.
 
 

Flounder

As a type of "flatfish," flounder are ideally suited to life on the ocean floor. They huddle up to the seabed, often aided by speckled skin that helps them blend in, such as this pebble-dwelling flounder. That offers safety from predators, but also lets them ambush prey like shrimp, worms and fish larvae.
 
 

Egyptian nightjar

Nightjars are small, nocturnal birds found around the world, often called "goatsuckers" due to a myth about stealing goats' milk (they do hang out near goats, but just to eat the insects they attract). Most nightjars nest on the ground, and many have evolved feathers to match — such as this young Egyptian nightjar, seen resting in its desert habitat.
 
 

Stick insect

While most animals need a specific backdrop for their camouflage to work, a few are so well-disguised they're incognito almost anywhere. Stick insects are a good example, with twig-like bodies that let them become virtually invisible just by holding still.
 
 

Arctic fox

It may seem bland at first glance, but an Arctic fox's ghostly, almost-blue coat is ideal attire on the tundra. Not only does it disappear in snow and defy temperatures as low as 58 below zero, but it also changes colors for summer, letting the fox hide among rocks and plants.
 
 
 

Chameleon

Few animals are as famous for camouflage as chameleons, whose color-changing skills have made them icons of adaptability. But that probably wasn't the reason they evolved the ability — instead, scientists think they mainly change colors to communicate.