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How and why animals developed camouflage

glocidia (offspring). When the unsuspecting pike is drawn to the sac, the mussel will open the sac and the glocidia will rush into the pikes face. After flowing through the gills, the glocidia will use dracula like teeth to attach themselves to the outer skin of the pike and be carried upstream.

Another form of camouflage is aposematic coloration. This is a warning system to all species. When an animal or insect has yellow or red coloring, this is like a flag waving to alert the predator to danger. Animals, insects or reptiles bearing these colors or certain markings are often poisonous to whatever eats them or attempts to. This has been learned previously and the victim of this interaction is not going to make the same mistake twice. Snakes with red and yellow patterns are venomous and quite deadly. However, there are other snakes with the same coloration that are harmless. You have to know how the pattern goes to determine whether you are in danger or not. Remember this phrase, "Red on black, I'm a friend of Jack. Red on yellow, I can kill a fellow." This sort of camouflage is also called Batesian mimicry. To avoid being eaten, a rather harmless or tasty species will mimic a dangerous one, hoping to avoid predators.

The forms of camouflage may not always work, but most of the time they do. If smaller species were not able to hide themselves, they would most likely become extinct. The nature of camouflage is an interesting feature for species to have, so be careful when you come across these crafty creatures so you don't give them away.

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How and why animals developed camouflage

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How and why animals developed camouflage

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