Camouflage

(*Teratodus monticollis*) is camouflaged in both shape and color]]
 desert]]
 inachus'', the Indian leaf butterfly Shows the leaf-like appearance of the underside of the wing, visible when wings are closed. This is typical of the whole genus.]]
, almost invisible (facing right, on the upper left of the nearly-vertical stick). Brazil]]

]]
's camouflage is dynamic: it changes as the background changes.]]

**Camouflage** is a visual . Without it, an animal would be  easily. If the natural color of an animal makes it look like its surroundings, that is camouflage. One example is a tiger's stripes in the long grass.

Camouflage is a form of . The word camouflage comes from the French word *camoufler,* which means "to disguise".

## Natural camouflage 
In nature, most animals  into their environment or  their shape. They are very hard to see. This way they survive, and if they survive, then they can reproduce. There are exceptions: animals which are dangerous to eat (e.g. wasps) advertise with warning coloration.

Prey animals hide from predators. Predators must search for prey without being seen. Natural camouflage is one way to do this: an animal can blend in with its surroundings. Another way is for the animal to  itself as something harmless.

Some camouflaged animals also copy movements in nature, e.g., of a leaf blowing in the wind. Other animals attach natural materials to their body for concealment. A few animals change color in changing environments. Seasonally: (many Arctic animals, such as the arctic fox, or arctic hare).  Or quickly, like the chameleon and the cuttlefish. Some herd animals, like zebra, have a pattern which makes it difficult for the predator when they are running.

Mimicry is a special kind of camouflage, where an animal or plant looks like another, usually one which is unpleasant to eat or dangerous.

### Countershading 
Most animals are dark on top and light underneath. With light coming from the sky, this *countershading* makes them less visible. These are the layers into which light penetrates. The effect of transparency or silvering works is better under water than above it. This is because the amount of light which penetrates is less and less as the depth increases. Also, the proportion of the light reflected is much less under water (0.001–0.6%) than in air (2–5%).

## Related pages 
*Military camouflage
*Mimicry
*Warning coloration: the opposite of camouflage

## References 
## Further reading 
*Ferrari, Mareo 1992. *Colors for survival: mimicry and camouflage in nature*. NY: Barnes & Noble. 
*Behrens, Roy R. 2002. *False colors: art, design and modern camouflage*. Bobolink Books. 
*Wolf, Art 2005. *Vanishing act*. Text by Barbara Sleeper. NY: Bullfinch Press. 
*Purser, Bruce 2003. *Jungle bugs: masters of camouflage & mimicry*. Toronto: Firefly. 
*Forbes, Peter 2009. *Dazzled and deceived: mimicry and camouflage*. Yale University Press. 

## Other websites 
*Harris, Tom. 2006. *How animal camouflage works*. http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/all-about-animals/animal-camouflage2.htm How Stuff Works.
*
*Roy R. Behrens. *Art and camouflage: an annotated bibliography* 
*Roy R. Behrens 2006. *The thinking eye: a chronology of camouflage*
**An informal study into camoflage* 
* BBC/Attenborough: Octopus hides in shells, from Blue Planet II. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05nzfn1?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=bbcone&intc_campaign=blueplanet&intc_linkname=vidclip_octopus_contentcard1

## Gallery 

Image:African Scops owl.jpg|Scops owl in tree: feathers camouflage the owl during daytime
Image:bristol.zoo.dead.leaf.mantis.arp.jpg| A mantis from Madagascar looks like a dead leaf.
Image:Kareius bicoloratus Camouflage.JPG|Two flatfish blending in!
Image:LeafInsect.jpg|A leaf insect at home
Image:Tiger - melbourne zoo.jpg|Tiger in zoo easily seen: but at home it blends with the long grass.
Image:Obscured jaguar.jpg|The more real the surroundings, the better the camouflage.
Image:Tawny Frogmouth (Coverdale).jpg|Tawny frogmouth blends in with color and texture of tree bark. Sydney, New South Wales. 
Image:Mimicry by spider.JPG|Spider hides in flower
Image:2005-Draco-dussumieri.jpg|*Draco indochinensis* uses disruptive coloration, and lying flat to avoid shadow.