What are some camouflage adaptations in animals?

Camouflage adaptations in animals include colour matching, disruptive colouration, countershading, and mimicry.

Colour matching, also known as cryptic colouration, is a common form of camouflage where an animal's primary colour matches the colour of its environment. This adaptation allows the animal to blend in with its surroundings, making it less visible to predators or prey. For example, the Arctic fox changes its fur colour to white during winter to match the snow, and brown during summer to blend with the tundra landscape.

Disruptive colouration is another form of camouflage where an animal has contrasting colours or patterns that break up its outline, making it harder to distinguish. This can confuse predators, making it difficult for them to identify or focus on the animal. Zebras are a classic example of this, their black and white stripes make it difficult for predators to single out an individual in a running herd.

Countershading is a type of camouflage where an animal's upper side is darker than its underside. This creates an illusion of flatness, which can help the animal blend into the background when viewed from different angles. Many marine animals, like sharks and penguins, have this adaptation. When viewed from above, their dark backs blend with the deep water below. When viewed from below, their light bellies blend with the sunlight filtering down from the surface.

Mimicry is a more complex form of camouflage where an animal not only blends with its environment, but also imitates the appearance of another object or organism. This can be used to avoid predators or to lure prey. For instance, the stick insect resembles twigs or branches, making it nearly invisible among the trees. Some harmless species even mimic dangerous or poisonous ones to deter predators, a phenomenon known as Batesian mimicry.