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.
