Camouflage

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/camouflage

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 significance?Crucial for survival, influencing predator-prey dynamics, species distribution, and evolutionary pathways
2. What is the related concepts?Crypsis, mimicry (Batesian, aggressive), disruptive coloration, countershading, adaptive coloration, biomimicry
3. What is camouflage and why do animals use it?Camouflage is when animals blend into their surroundings to stay hidden from predators or to sneak up on prey. It helps them survive and have babies.
4. How does a leopard use disruptive coloration to hide?A leopard's spots break up its shape, making it hard to spot in the dappled light of the forest. This trick keeps it safe from danger.

Crypsis: The ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms.
Disruptive Coloration: Patterns that break up an animal's body outline, making it harder to recognize.
Adaptive Coloration: The ability of an organism to change its color to match its surroundings.