For most animals, being conspicuous is like offering themselves as a meal. Even some predators use camouflage. Stripes or spots on an orange or yellowish coat create a blend that mimics a partially shaded forest. But camouflage is not the only reason for the hidden biodiversity phenomenon. Animals have a world of ways to stay out of sight.
Many species remain hidden for the greater part of their lives.
Colorful salamanders, such as the spotted salamander with its shiny black body and bright yellow spots, spend the majority of the year beneath logs or leaf litter. The only time someone is likely to see a spotted salamander is on a rainy night in winter or early spring. Hence, most people have never seen a live one in the wild. Some superb examples of hidden biodiversity among larger animals occur among the reptiles. Among the most impressive turtles are the softshells, with one or more species occurring in most of the midwestern and eastern states.