1. Animal Camouflage
A Way of Life

2. Camouflage: Definition
French word: camoufler - to disguise
Relatively new word
Blending in with the environment
Avoid being seen from other organisms.

3. Natural Camouflage Animals that match their environment naturally
Ex: Polar bear in their snowy habitat
Con: If placed in different environment, they would be visible (polar bear in woods)

4. Changing Colors Change color to match season
Ex: Snowshoe hare is brown in spring
Ex: Snowshoe hare turns white in summer

5. Changing Colors Some animals can change colors quickly
Due to background, temperature, or lighting changes
Ex: Anole Lizard can change color within 2 minutes

6. Changing Colors
Squids, Octopuses, and Cuttlefish have different colors!

7. Changing Colors and Textures
Texture can reflect animals’ backgrounds.
Ex: Flounder can match sand and gravel

8. Shape Camouflage Animal’s shapes imitate their habitat.
Usually resemble some type of vegetation
Ex: Walking Stick
Ex: Leaf Bug

9. Defense Camouflage Used to deceive, alarm, or distract predators
Ex: Hickory Horn Devil Caterpillar uses it’s head spines
Ex: Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar uses eyespots to look like dragon

10. Mimicry Camouflage
Copycatting appearances of harmful animals to ward away enemies.
Ex: Non-venomous snakes look similar to poisonous Coral Snakes.

11. Distracting Camouflage
Certain part of an animal’s body draws attention from another part
Ex: Lizards have distracting tails because they will grow back if cut off

12. Chart
How many animals were green, white, brown, or other colored?

13. Camouflage: Video
Watch the video and learn about other animals that use this defense mechanism

14. Resources
Animal Colors and Shapes. Discovery Channel School (2005). Retrieved October 4, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
Camouflage. Wikipedia (2006). Retrieved October 9, 2006, from wikipedia:

15. Resources
Texas junior nationalists: camouflage. Texas Wildlife and Parks (2005). Retrieved October 9, 2006 from

16. Question 1 Which colors appear the most in nature? Black, Brown, Red
Blue, Green, Brown
Green, Blue, Gray
Orange, Pink, Red

17. Question 2
The best color for camouflage depends on the animal’s _______.
Fashion sense
Size
Environment
temperature

18. Question 3
If a jackrabbit was in the sandy dessert, which color would be the best camouflage?
Yellow
Brown
Black
White

19. Question 4 Which is NOT a type of camouflage? Color Shape Distraction
Smell

20. Question 5 Which is NOT a reason for camouflage?
To blend in with the environment
To ward away predators
To distract other animals
To attract attention

21. Correct!

22. Try Again!