Camouflage

Camouflage is coloring, shape, or size that helps an animal blend in with the place it lives.

It also helps protect them from their enemies. An animal is much better able to "hide" by blending into its surroundings.

On the other hand, camouflage also helps a predator "fit in" to its environment so that it won't be seen very easily as it comes up on its prey.

Take the Arctic fox. During summer months, the Arctic fox has a brown coat. During winter, the coat of the Arctic fox is white, matching its icy, snowy surroundings.

A zebra’s stripes help it blend in with the rest of the herd. This makes it harder for a lion to single out one zebra to attack.

The walking stick, an insect, is very hard to see. Its shape and color make it look like a twig. When it is in danger, it folds its legs against its body. It does not move. It looks just like a stick.

When the Indian leaf butterfly folds its wings, it looks like a dead leaf.

The chameleon is a lizard. It can change its color to match the color of its surroundings.

The wings of peppered moths match the color of tree bark where the moths rest.

The way these animals look helps them stay alive.

The pocket gopher has the same color fur as soil.

The goldfinch has the same color feathers as meadow plants.

Sources

Animal Defenses SRA

http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/animal/foxes.htm