Hiding in Plain Sight: Animal Camouflage

Hiding in Plain Sight

1Have you ever looked right at an animal and not seen it? Many animals are hard to spot because of their color, shape, or pattern. When an animal blends in with the things around it, that is called camouflage. Camouflage helps animals stay safe and find food.

2Some animals change color with the seasons. In summer, the snowshoe hare's brown fur matches the dirt and twigs on the forest floor. In winter, its fur turns white. Then the hare is hard to see against the snow, so foxes may pass right by it.

3Other animals hide because of their shape. A stick insect has a long, thin body and skinny legs. When it holds still on a branch, it looks just like a twig. Birds that eat insects often fly right past it without noticing.

4Some animals can change color quickly. A flounder is a flat fish that lies on the ocean floor. It can change the color and pattern of its skin to match the sand or pebbles under it. This helps the flounder hide from bigger fish. It also helps the flounder sneak up on the small animals it eats.

5Camouflage helps hunters, too. A tiger's orange coat and dark stripes blend in with tall grass and shadows. This lets the tiger creep close to the animals it hunts before they see it.

6Color, shape, and pattern can all help animals hide. Whether an animal is hiding from danger or sneaking up on a meal, camouflage helps it survive.