Camoflauge

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/camoflauge

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the key mechanisms?Cryptic coloration, disruptive coloration, countershading, active camouflage, and mimicry
2. What is the ecological role?Maintains population balance, promotes biodiversity through niche partitioning, and influences social dynamics
3. What is camouflage and why do animals use it?Camouflage is a way animals blend into their surroundings to hide from predators or sneak up on prey. It helps them survive and reproduce.
4. How do animals change their color to match their environment?Some animals have special cells called chromatophores that let them shift skin color quickly, like chameleons and octopuses.

Adaptive Evolution: The process by which organisms evolve traits that increase their survival and reproduction in their environment.
Chromatophores: Pigment-containing and light-reflecting cells found in amphibians, fish, reptiles, and cephalopods.
Biomimicry: The design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.