Find The Frog In This Photo, And See If You Can Spot Some Other Camouflaged Creatures
The recent discovery about the underlying mechanism in chameleon camouflage got us wondering about other incognito creatures in the wild. Did you know that cephalopods (squids, octopi, cuttlefish), despite the fact they’re almost all colorblind, can drastically change both the texture and color of their skin to perfectly blend into their environment?
Other covert critters, after millennia of adaptation, actually resemble the places they live. In the right environment, they’re almost invisible! Think you could find some of the best camouflage experts on their own home turf?
Check out some of nature’s best hiders, and see how many you can spot:
1. This is what Australian cuttlefish normally look like:
Photo Credit: Roger Hanlon via Marine Biological Laboratory
Can you find the camo expert when it’s incognito?
Photo Credit: Roger Hanlon via Marine Biological Laboratory
The secretive long-eared owls are nighttime hunters that are rarely seen. Their long tufts on their ears are the most distinguishable attribute that sets them apart from the short-eared owl.
2. Here’s a long-eared owl:
Can you spot him now?
The mossy leaf-tailed gecko is endemic to Madagascar. Their dermal flaps allow for even greater camouflage when combined with the ability to change its skin color. The dermal flaps break up the gecko’s outline. They range in size from 6 to 8 inches and are nocturnal predators with a diet consisting of insects, arthropods, and gastropods.
3. Check out the mossy leaf-tailed gecko:
Photo Credit: Tony Gamble via University of Minnesota
Try to check it out now.
The most common animal on this list, the common octopus is a nighttime hunter that utilizes a paralyzing nerve poison to feed. The common octopus are highly intelligent and can learn to unscrew jars and raid lobster traps.
4. This is what a conspicuous common octopus looks like:
Photo Credit: Caroline Rogers via USGS
Can you see it in coral mode?
Photo Credit: Ziggy Livnat via Discovery Magazine
5. Have a look at the gray tree frog:
Now see if you can find it on an actual gray tree.
Photo Credit: Erika Duross via Earth Watch
What sorts of camouflage experts are hiding in your backyard? Share your photos with us!
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