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Students will learn what is camouflage and how and why animals use camouflage.

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Some animals don't just know their surroundings, they are their surroundings. Or at least that's what their enemies think.

Camouflage is an ancient art, and species around the planet depend on it daily for survival. Whether it's a gecko blending into bark or a jaguar fading into foliage, blending in with one's surroundings can mean the difference between eating and being eaten. Here are 14 animals with incredible camouflaging abilities - plus one surprising creature that may not be as interested in camouflage as you thought.

Few animals are as famous for camouflage as chameleons, whose color-changing skills have made them icons of adaptability. The key is the chromatophore, a type of pigmented cell layered underneath chameleons' transparent outer skin. However, contrary to popular belief, chameleons don't actually change colors to camouflage themselves. Instead, scientists think they change colors to communicate.

Certain hues signal certain moods; chameleons darken their colors when afraid and brighten them when they are excited. Some colors advertise that the animal is ready to mate.

Another reason chameleons change colors is to regulate their body temperature. They alter their coloring to affect how much heat they absorb from the sun.

While the real reason for chameleons' famous ability to change colors may have surprised you, don't worry. There are plenty of other creatures that actually camouflage like professionals.

Pygmy Seahorse

Coral reefs are rough places to live, so their residents often use camouflage to stay safe. This is an area where the pygmy seahorse excels.

Less than an inch long and studded with round protuberances called tubercles, this small seahorse has designed itself to exactly match the coral it inhabits. It blends in so well that it was only discovered by humans after showing up among wild-caught coral in an aquarium.

If you're ever snorkeling in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, watch out for coral reefs looking back at you. You could be seeing a stonefish, the most venomous known fish on Earth.

There are many species of this creature, but they all use the same camouflage technique. With a lumpy, encrusted appearance, the aptly named stonefish blends in with a variety of reefs and rocks to successfully hide on the seafloor, waiting to ambush prey.

Their other notable defense mechanism is their venom. They have 13 sharp dorsal spines packed with a potent neurotoxin that can be fatal to humans if stepped on.

The Arctic fox's stark white coat may grab our attention because of its beauty, but it does the opposite to predators in the tundra. This ideal attire helps the fox disappear among the white snow, hiding it from the eagles, polar bears, and wolves that hunt it. As a bonus, the fur keeps it sufficiently warm in temperatures as low as 58 degrees below zero.

But what happens when the weather warms and the snow melts away? When the seasons change, the Arctic fox sheds its white coat and dons one that is brown and blond to help it blend in with rocks and plants.

Cuttlefish

Dubbed the "chameleon of the sea," a cuttlefish's ability to change colors to match its surroundings takes camouflage to new heights. Every square millimeter of their bodies holds up to 200 color-changing chromatophores (pigment cells) layered atop other cells that reflect light. These allow the cephalopod to rapidly change colors and even create chromatically complex patterns. In addition, it has muscles that can change the texture of its skin from smooth to rough, allowing it to blend in with rocks and reefs when necessary.

Cuttlefish's appearance-altering skills even go beyond mere camouflage. It can use color and light to "glow," which mesmerizes fish that can then easily become prey.

Here you can see a cuttlefish changing its colors:

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Can you spot all of these incognito critters?

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Check out our range of fun animal lesson plans that feature interesting animal facts and cool activities for kids.

Animal Camouflage

While some of us stand out in a crowd others tend to blend in and it’s the same in the animal kingdom. This animal camouflage lesson plan explains some of the concepts and offers a fun activity to help kids understand how camouflage works.

Camouflage Information:

The color and/or pattern of an animal often allows it to either blend in or stand out from its environment. This helps them escape predators or hunt more efficiently by being harder to see.

When it blends into its background it is called camouflage.

For example, many animals that live in snowy areas are white, like the polar bear. Many animals that live in deserts are sand-coloured, many animals that live in trees are green, many animals that live on rocks match the coloration of the rocks and many animals that live near the soil are soil-coloured. Patterns, like stripes or spots, can also help camouflage an animal.

A chameleon can even change its colour to blend in with its environment.

Animals that stand out are often colored very brightly, this is because in the animal world a bright color means danger or poison.

Take a look at some animal photos, which animals are camouflaged and which stand out from their surroundings.

Make a cardboard cutout of an animal and color it with markings so that it camouflages into the color of your room.

Questions:

What is it called when an animal blends into its environment?

What are two reasons why an animal will blend into its environment?

What are two ways an animal can blend into its environment?

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Animal Camouflage Activity - Fun Lesson Plan, Science for Kids

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Camouflage
Free Games & Activities
for Kids

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Camouflage - Free Educational Animal Games for Kids

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CamouflageFree Games & Activitiesfor Kids

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We have developed a number of online games which we use for experiments in sensory ecology.

Active games are still collecting data for a current project.

Archived gamesare still playable but are no longer collecting data for an experiment.
Click on the Title to Play.

Snowshoe hares change their coat colour from white in the winter, to brown in the summer. This change in colour enables them to use camouflage to hide from any potential predators all year round. As our planet warms, the time of snow cover is changing and leaving snowshoe hares with extended periods in which their coats do not 'match' their surroundings. In this game, play as a coyote or a human hunter to help us examine whether this mismatch will influence the effectiveness of snowshoe hare camouflage.

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We have developed a number of online games which we use for experiments in sensory ecology. Active games are still collecting data for a current project. Archived gamesare still playable but are no longer collecting data for an experiment. Click on the Title to Play.

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Camouflage, also called cryptic coloration, is a defense or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings. Organisms use camouflage to mask their location, identity, and movement. This allows prey to avoid predators, and for predators to sneak up on prey.

A species' camouflage depends on several factors. The physical characteristics of the organism are important. Animals with fur rely on different camouflage tactics than those with feathers or , for instance. Feathers and scales can be shed and changed fairly regularly and quickly. Fur, on the other hand, can take weeks or even months to grow in. Animals with fur are more often camouflaged by season. The arctic fox, for example, has a white coat in the winter, while its summer coat is brown.

The behavior of a species is also important. Animals that live in groups differ from those that are solitary. The stripes on a zebra, for instance, make it stand out. However, zebras are social animals, meaning they live and migrate in large groups called herds. When clustered together, it is nearly impossible to tell one zebra from another, making it difficult for predators such as lions to stalk an individual animal.

A species' camouflage is also influenced by the behavior or characteristics of its predators. If the predator is color-blind, for example, the prey species will not need to match the color of its surroundings. Lions, the main predator of zebras, are color-blind. Zebras' black-and-white camouflage does not need to blend in to their habitat, the golden savanna of central Africa.

Camouflage Tactics

Environmental and behavioral factors cause species to employ a wide variety of camouflage tactics. Some of these tactics, such as background matching and disruptive coloration, are forms of mimicry. Mimicry is when one organism looks or acts like an object or another organism.

Background matching is perhaps the most common camouflage tactic. In background matching, a species conceals itself by resembling its surroundings in coloration, form, or movement. In its simplest form, animals such as deer and squirrels resemble the "earth tones" of their surroundings. Fish such as flounder almost exactly match their speckled seafloor habitats.

More complex forms of background matching include the camouflage of the walking stick and walking leaf. These two insects, both native to southeast Asia, look and act like their namesakes. Patterns on the edge of the walking leaf's body resemble bite marks left by caterpillars in leaves. The insect even sways from side to side as it walks, to better mimic the swaying of a leaf in the breeze.

Another camouflage tactic is disruptive coloration. In disruptive coloration, the identity and location of a species may be disguised through a coloration pattern. This form of visual disruption causes predators to misidentify what they are looking at. Many butterflies have large, circular patterns on the upper part of their wings. These patterns, called eyespots, resemble the eyes of animals much larger than the butterfly, such as owls. Eyespots may confuse predators such as birds and misdirect them from the soft, vulnerable part of the butterfly's body.

Other species use coloration tactics that highlight rather than hide their identity. This type of camouflage is called warning coloration or aposematism. Warning coloration makes predators aware of the organism's toxic or dangerous characteristics. Species that demonstrate warning coloration include the larva and adult stages of the monarch butterfly. The monarch caterpillar is brightly striped with yellow, black, and white. The monarch butterfly is patterned with orange, black, and white. Monarchs eat milkweed, which is a poison to many birds. Monarchs retain the poison in their bodies. The milkweed toxin is not deadly, but the bird will vomit. The bright coloring warns predator birds that an upset stomach is probably not worth a monarch meal.

Another animal that uses aposematism is the deadly coral snake, whose brightly colored rings alert other species to its toxic venom. The coral snake's warning coloration is so well known in the animal kingdom that other, non-threatening species mimic it in order to camouflage their true identities. The harmless scarlet king snake has the same black, yellow, and red striped pattern as the coral snake. The scarlet king snake is camouflaged as a coral snake.

Countershading is a form of camouflage in which the top of an animal's body is darker in color, while its underside is lighter. Sharks use countershading. When seen from above, they blend in with the darker ocean water below. This makes it difficult for fishermen-and swimmers-to see them. When seen from below, they blend in with lighter surface water. This helps them hunt because prey species below may not see a shark until it's too late.

Countershading also helps because it changes the way shadows are created. Sunlight illuminates the top of an animal's body, casting its belly in shadow. When an animal is all one color, it will create a uniform shadow that makes the animal's shape easier to see. In countershading, however, the animal is darker where the sun would normally illuminate it, and lighter where it would normally be in shadow. This distorts the shadow and makes it harder for predators to see the animal's true shape.

Creating Camouflage

Animal species are able to camouflage themselves through two primary mechanisms: pigments and physical structures.

Some species have natural, microscopic pigments, known as biochromes, which absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. Species with biochromes actually appear to change colors. Many species of octopus have a variety of biochromes that allow them to change the color, pattern, and opacity of their skin.

Other species have microscopic physical structures that act like prisms, reflecting and scattering light to produce a color that is different from their skin. The polar bear, for instance, has black skin. Its translucent fur reflects the sunlight and snow of its habitat, making the bear appear white.

Camouflage can change with the environment. Many animals, such as the arctic fox, change their camouflage with the seasons. Octopuses camouflage themselves in response to a threat. Other species, such as nudibranchs-brightly colored, soft-bodied ocean "slugs"-can change their skin coloration by changing their diet.

Chameleons change colors in order to communicate. When a chameleon is threatened, it does not change color to blend in to its surroundings. It changes color to warn other chameleons that there is danger nearby.

Some forms of camouflage are not based on coloration. Some species attach or attract natural materials to their bodies in order to hide from prey and predators. Many varieties of desert spiders, for instance, live in burrows in the sandy ground. They attach sand to the upper part of their bodies in order to blend in with their habitat.

Other animals demonstrate olfactory camouflage, hiding from prey by "covering up" their smell or masking themselves in another species' smell. The California ground squirrel, for instance, chews up and spits out rattlesnake skin, then applies the paste to its tail. The ground squirrel smells somewhat like its main predator. The rattlesnake, which senses by smell and body heat, is confused and hesitant about attacking another venomous snake.

Fast Fact

Dressing for the Part
The dresser crab gets its name for a reason: The animal picks up pieces of coral and sponge with its claws and places them on the Velcro-like hairs that cover its body. When a predator, such as a blowfish, passes by, the dresser crab freezes, blending into the seafloor. The dresser crab adapts to its environment so well that even when placed in a fish tank full of human objects, such as lace and pearl necklaces, the creature will get "dressed up" for the occasion, appearing to be just another trinket at the bottom of the tank.

Fast Fact

Ghillie Suits
Ghillie suits are a type of camouflage used by the military and hunters to blend in to thick vegetation. In addition to patterns of contrasting green or khaki, ghillie suits feature elements of foliage from the area: twigs, leaves, and branches.

In Australia, ghillie suits are nicknamed "yowies," for their resemblance to the Yowie, a mythical creature similar to Bigfoot.

Fast Fact

Khaki Camouflage
Militaries did not use camouflage until the 17th and 18th centuries. Before then, military uniforms were brightly colored, in order to intimidate the enemy.

In the 1850s, the British Army suffered massive casualties in India. (Indians were fighting for their independence.) British leaders dyed their bright white uniforms a dull, sandy tan to blend in with the desert surroundings. They called these newly colored uniforms khakis, a Hindu word for "dust."

Fast Fact

Razzle Dazzle
Razzle Dazzle, or dazzle camouflage, was a tactic used by Allied forces during World War I and World War II. Large ships, such as aircraft carriers, were painted with bold, geometric patterns. Razzle Dazzle did not camouflage the so-called "dazzle ships," but made it difficult for opposing forces to judge the size and type of the vessel.

Fast Fact

Sneaky Snakes
The scarlet king snake is harmless, but its black, yellow, and red stripes mimic the stripes of the deadly coral snake. The only real difference between the two patterns is the order of the colors. The coral snakes pattern is red-yellow-black. The scarlet king snakes pattern is red-black-yellow.

A rhyme makes the distinction easy to remember.
Red on yellow kills a fellow,
Red on black wont hurt Jack.

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Camouflage, also called cryptic coloration, is a defense or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings. Organisms use camouflage to mask their location, identity, and movement. This allows prey to avoid predators, and for predators to sneak up on prey.

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These classroom activities are designed to complement the Camouflage topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Camouflage Clips
Take your class to a grassy area and divide them into small groups. Give each group 30 paper clips in different colors. Which color will be easiest to see in the grass? Which will be hardest? Have students make their predictions. Have one group member sprinkle the paper clips on the grass and count to 40 while the other members pick up as many paper clips as they can. Have students record their findings. Discuss the results and have students talk about how camouflage can help animals to survive.

Hidden

Create a habitat in a terrarium or fish tank. If possible, use a real animal to study, such as a lizard, beetle, or cricket. If keeping a real animal is not possible, you can use a realistic plastic bug or snake. Tell the class that they are going to create a habitat for the animal. Have students research and learn about the animal and its habitat. How does the animal use camouflage in its environment? What does the animal eat? If it eats insects, do any of them use camouflage? Have students collect and bring in materials to add to the habitat.

Camouflage Mural

Together as a class, paint or color a large mural of a forest. Students may want to research different forests before they sketch their mural to learn what types of plant, animal, and insect life each forest has. Then have each student pick a forest animal, learn about it, and add it to the mural. Explain to the class that this animal should be camouflaged in the forest. Have each student present their animal to the class and discuss how it uses camouflage to stay safe.

Camouflage Outfit

Have students think of ways to camouflage themselves in different places. How would they dress to stay hidden in the forest or in the snow? What colors would they wear to stay hidden in the desert? Have students draw pictures of different outfits. Then compile the pictures into a book to make a clothing catalog.

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Classroom Activities: Camouflage | BrainPOP Educators

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In this set of activities adaptable for grades K-3, parents and educators will find ideas for teaching about camouflage and animal adaptations. These activities are designed to complement the BrainPOP Jr. Camouflage topic page, which includes a movie, quizzes, online games, printable activities, and more.

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This post contains affiliate links.

Teaching about adaptations can be fun, especially when you start talking about the physical adaptation of camouflage. Often times students who are aware of camouflage have already completed an activity where they color a butterfly, or some other image, to match a background, so I have to get creative and come up with a different activity for them.

Enter my “Scavenger Hunt.”

Helping Students Understand Camouflage

Investigation 1:

In this camouflage investigation, I take students outside and mark off individual areas for each group. The size is usually about the size of two desks pushed together. Then I drop about 50 colored toothpicks throughout this area. The toothpicks represent the prey or ‘insects.’

Then, I bring the students out, who represent the predators (such as birds), and they are given 15 seconds to pick up as many ‘insects’ as they can. Once time is up, they cannot return any ‘insects’ to the field. You can provide them with another round if desired.

After ‘hunting’ for their food, we create charts to determine which ‘insects’ survived best (the ones that camouflaged did best, which were the green in the grass). Our charts would show the numbers of which colors were collected in each round.

While you could see the green toothpicks in the grass when looking closely, when you are limited on time and looking fast, you aren’t as likely to grab them as much.

Investigation 2:

Investigation 2 is similar. So let’s say that you live in an area like me where it is winter like 9 months out of the year. I wish I was kidding but I’m pretty sure it’s winter alllllll year long here. That can make it tough to get outside and find some grass that isn’t so white. Or maybe you teach adaptations during a time when it is winter and so, you need an alternative activity for teaching camouflage.  I understand.

Instead, use green felt to represent your ‘grass’. Then, using construction paper and your hole puncher, create ‘insects’ to place on the green grass felt. Then, like above, give students (the birds) 15 seconds to pick up as many insects they see. (It’s important that they grab the ones they see and not just swish them into their hands.) Repeat, if desired, and then create your charts.

Both of these activities can help children see that by blending into their environment, animals have a greater chance of surviving because they aren’t noticed as much as other animals. It is also a great way to help children understand the meaning of camouflage. Plus it’s a new activity that they likely haven’t seen before.

I have a science tabbed booklet on camouflage that explores this investigation. It includes a differentiated reading passage, vocabulary practice, and more!

You can find my camouflage science tabbed booklet on TpT here.

Camouflage Investigation Booklet (Adaptations) Printable & Digital

$4.25

It will definitely save you some time and engage your students during this investigation!

Head to my store and check it out. 🙂

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Are you looking for a new way for your students to investigate camouflage? Check out these activities for students to explore this physical adaptation!

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Animal Adaptations For Kids | Science | Grade 3 & 4 | TutWay

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The natural world is filled with animals trying to eat other animals and trying to avoid being eaten. The pressure to find food or to keep from becoming someone else's dinner has, over millions of years, produced an incredibly effective way to escape detection by predators or prey: camouflage. This video segment from NOVA: Animal Impostors explores the world of camouflage, including some of the methods and benefits of this important evolutionary strategy.

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Accessibility Auditory, Textual, Visual, Caption
Credits

Want to see state standards for this resource?

Nationwide

Benchmarks for Science Literacy (1)

5F/P1
By the end of second grade, students should know that: Different plants and animals have external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places.

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The natural world is filled with animals trying to eat other animals and trying to avoid being eaten. The pressure to find food or to keep from becoming someone else's dinner has, over millions of years, produced an incredibly effective way to escape detection by predators or prey: camouflage.