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Nature has a way of protecting us. In the animal kingdom, although many other facets come into play, the most effective in the animal world is the art of camouflage.

FORMS THAT IT TAKES

Color plays a huge part in camouflage, and certain animals blend in with their geographical scenery in such a clever way as to protect them from predators.

Fish have wonderful camouflage systems, and whilst some depend on an almost transparent effect, others work on a system of reflecting colors around them, and even more on actual physical change.

EFFECTS OF CAMOUFLAGE AND EVOLUTION

In the natural environment, animals, reptiles, birds and fish all have their own camouflage techniques or built it protection. Lizards change color in some instances upon a rocky surface and are hardly noticeable, and birds can blend into scenery easily because of their likeness in color to their surroundings, although these are not the only creatures that use this method.

A cleverer creature is the stick insect, whose coat is made up of particles that resemble the natural elements in the environment of the river where he lives.

SAFETY

The safety of animals that can effectively use camouflage is enhanced and will fool those who seek them into thinking they are absent, although in some instances, predators will depend on their sense of smell to overcome the camouflage and defeat their prey.

COPYING NATURE

Humans try to copy nature, in that those who birdwatch tend to dress in camouflage, although the clever camouflage of reflection and change of color are specific to the animal world and one of the least recognized wonders of nature. To see this in motion, watch fish. See how they integrate with rocks and greenery around them. It certainly is an effective means of hiding.

THE FUTURE

The future of camouflage efficient animals is more secure when left in their natural environment, and although these camouflage effects have been noted in a zoo situation, the human intervention in moving animals to habitats other than those that are natural is making camouflage ineffective, and mankind is helping in the diminishing of species that use effective camouflage.

Instead of changing their habitat, those pet owners who seek to keep the elements of camouflage built into the creation of these wonderful creature should be aware of providing them with a habitat, where indeed their camouflage continues to protect them from harm.

Learn more about this author, Rachelle de Bretagne.
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