Animals That Change Their Color
Chameleon
Just don’t turn red!
The chameleon is fascinating: it has eyes that can move independently of one another and a long sticky slingshot of a tongue, and it can change color. It’s true that most animals that change their color do so to hide from predators. But the chameleon is different. It uses color to show others how it feels. It can turn black if upset (if it falls over) or very pale when sick.
Octopus
Do squids really squirt ink?
Octopuses hide themselves in dark clouds if they sense danger. It’s as if someone spilled a huge barrel of ink. But cephalopods have got even more color tricks up their many sleeves. They can change their color within seconds: from fire red via deep green to dark blue.
Plaice
Who, me? There’s no one here!
Plaice only have eyes on the top of their bodies. This is usually gray or brown with a mottled look. These fish aren’t poisonous, and they don’t have sharp teeth. They only survive by not being discovered. They lie on the sea floor like they’ve been run over by a steam roller, and match their color to their surroundings. Finding the plaice in these two pictures is a challenge!
- Table of Contents:
- 0. Introduction
- 1. Chameleon, Octopus, Plaice
- 2. Mantis Shrimp, Bignose Unicorn Fish, Mosquitofish, Frogfish
- 3. Crab Spider, Egyptian Vulture, Ribbon Eel
