Throughout the years, species adapt to blend into their surroundings. These astounding camouflage skills were spurned in order for the animals to protect themselves from various predators and harsh elements in their environment. From insects to humans, all kinds of creatures have this fascinating ability. See if you can spot these sneaky animals. Researchers rank #6 the meanest creature ever created!
Talk About “Saltie”
This amazingly hidden creature is the saltwater crocodile. These crocodiles are also known as “salties." They also happen to be the largest of all reptiles currently living in the world, and some have been known to reach up to twenty-three feet long! Salties typically live in brackish swamps and are found everywhere from India to Australia.
This guy is known to be an exceptionally fierce predator and is even known to overpower sharks. They're considered the most dangerous crocodile to humans. You can only make out the Saltie’s eye in this photo, which somehow makes him even more of a terrifying predator!
The Magic of Tiger Stripes
We typically think of tigers as powerful, striking creatures, rather than an animal capable of camouflaging themselves. However, if you take a look at this photo you can see that in certain backdrops a tiger’s stripes actually come in handy. For many years tigers existed widely across the world.
Sadly, within the past one hundred years their population has dropped significantly, and they are now considered an endangered species. The remaining tiger species are closely monitored with various dedicated conservation efforts. One thing is certain, tigers remain one of the most majestic creatures on planet Earth.
The Haunting Pallid Scops Owl
Do you see this one? This is a pallid scops owl and definitely warrants more than a second glance. This owl has feathers with markings that almost perfectly blend in with the bark of a tree. These creatures are found in a variety of areas ranging from the Middle East to Central Asia.
Owls are already known to cause a few scares now and then with their eerie calls and stares. This owl is said to have a low “dove-like call” which would be all the more surprising with its impressive camouflage!
The Flower Mimicking Mantis
Isn’t nature amazing? This orchid mantis looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. The species doesn’t get its name for living on an orchid, but for looking like one. It usually comes in shades of pink and white and is found in Malaysia.
This dazzling creature is also known for being able to change colors slightly based on humidity and light exposure. People often try to keep it as a pet because of how amazing it is to look at, although it does not have a long life span.
The Cutest Coral-Crafted Seahorse
This expertly camouflaged creature is called a pygmy seahorse, and it's one of the smallest seahorses in the world. Here the seahorse blends in nearly perfectly with the coral. These tiny creatures live in Southeast Asia, with several species of pygmy seahorses.
The first discovered, pictured above, only lives near fan corals. The seahorses can match the color and the texture of the coral. This species is super tiny and extremely easy to miss as they are only a few centimeters in length!
The Meanest Creature
Another interesting camouflaged fish, of the terrifying variety, is the stargazer fish. This fish has eyes on the top of its head and buries itself in the sand. However, it has an even crazier facial feature: a massive mouth with fanged teeth. This species also has a “worm-shaped lure” that comes out its mouth to hunt its prey.
This fish lives throughout the world in both shallow and deep oceans. They're poisonous, have a venomous spine, and deliver electric shocks. This fish has been called “the meanest thing in creation” by scientists, and we have to agree.
The Cutest Camouflage
The Arctic fox is without a doubt, one of the cutest entries on the list. Also referred to as a polar fox, they live in the Arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. The fox’s fur is very thick to protect it from the extreme cold. The snowy white appearance aids in blending in.
This species doesn’t have a long lifespan in the wild, living an average of four years. The fox is an omnivore and eats both small mammals like lemmings in addition to berries and seaweed. They build their dens in a complex underground chain. One of the unique features of this species is that they are monogamous and raise their children with their partner!
The Majestic, Mythological Jaguar
This beautiful big cat is a jaguar. Jaguars live primarily in the southwestern part of the United States into Mexico and Central America. The species is extremely rare in the U.S., due to various environmental issues including the destruction of its native habitat.
The jaguar lives in tropical and subtropical forests and is often found near water. (They like to swim!) Although poaching this cat is internationally prohibited, people hunt it. The cat also has mythological meaning for the indigenous people of the Americas and is often seen in Mayan and Aztec artwork.
This Tiny Bird Matches The Desert
At first glance, it certainly looks like this is a rock, but it's an Egyptian Nightjar. This bird is a native species of the desert and live around the world. They are one of the only birds known to thrive in the desert. The color of its feathers blends in with the surrounding landscape. These birds are quite small and are also nocturnal, which is why the bird above looks to be sleeping.
These tiny unassuming birds are also subject to a scary myth. They are sometimes called “goatsuckers” and are thought to steal goats' milk at night. While they do like to hang around goats and other livestock, they are more interested in the insects hovering around the animals rather than the animal itself.
This Moth Looks Exactly Like Leaves
The Lappet moth is another of nature’s fantastical creations. The moth appears very similar to dried oak leaves. If you didn’t know any better, you could mistake it for a batch of fresh fall leaves. This crafty bug lives in southern Britain, where you can spot them during the summer months.
Like all moths, the lappet moth is attracted to light. And as with many species, the female is bigger than the male. It's too easy to accidentally step on one of these insects, jumping into a pile of leaves. That would be a sad day.
The Largest Moths In The World
The Saturniidae Moth is a fascinating and breathtaking species. It is one of the largest moth species in the world. In addition to extensive wings, their bodies “hair-like” scales cover their body which aid in their striking appearance.
Many also have transparent windows on their wings. Here we see a bright yellow-colored Saturniid which matches perfectly against a background of yellowed leaves. This species is found all over the world, predominantly in wooded and subtropical regions.
The Quintessential Camouflaged Insect
Perhaps one of the most well-known insects with the ability to camouflage itself is the walking sticking, also known as the Phasmatodea. These insects are found throughout the world, ranging from the Americas to Australia and Europe- every continent except for Antartica.
This bug gets its name from its amazing natural camouflage which comes in the form of looking like a stick. Their appearance makes it easy for this type of creature to avoid predators. Additionally, many members of the walking stick species can shoot out secretions for protective purposes as well.
This Flounder Has Periscope Eyes
If you’re a scuba diver, you might want to watch out! It's very easy to step on this guy, the wide-eye flounder. Aptly named, this fish has a strange flat shape which it uses to its advantage. The creature buries itself in sand or rock on the bottom of the ocean floor. This species uses its wide-set eyes and flat body to protect itself from various predators.
It is found in multiple oceans including the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Sea where it mainly eats fish and worms. One of the strangest features of this particular fish is its eyes. They serve as periscopes and can rotate a full 180 degrees
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Camouflaged Itself
Although this little guy looks as though he is merely an extension of the plant he is sitting on, he’s a spider. This spider is the Micrommata visercens and is quite impressive because of the beautiful bright green shade they come in. The females are a bright green while the males are a darker olive color.
These spiders live in Northern and Central Europe in forests, meadows, and woodlands. Although a bite from one of these creatures would certainly hurt, it would not kill you as they are not particularly poisonous. Experts say that while there might be a bit of swelling and pain, it should stop within a two day period.
The Perfect Disguise Of The Katydid
And here is yet another selection from the group of animals who look like leaves. This is the leaf-mimicking katydid or the pterophylla camellifolia. This katydid is one of the most recently discovered of all species on this list. It lives in Sabah which is a part of Malaysia.
The body of this katydid has “vein-like structures” which mimic the veins of a leaf. The coloring and even the appearance of the bug’s texture make it appear to be a real leaf. In this species the females are reddish-pink, and the males are green, although both resemble actual leaves.
This Spider Hides Itself With Bark
This creature is the long-spinnered bark spider which perfectly blends with the bark of a tree. This spider family exists in a variety of shades including cream, orange, grey, and black. They are also extremely quick and like most spiders, can easily scurry and disappear into tiny cracks and crevices.
They are originally found in South Africa but are found throughout the world. One quirky feature of this spider is that they do not spin webs. Rather, they wrap their prey in silk and eat it on the spot. They also practice another former of camouflage. After spinning an egg sac they add bits of bark debris to prevent it from being detected.
Nothing Satanic About This Gecko
If you didn’t know better, you would never give this guy a second look. This fantastic work of nature is called a “satanic leaf-tail gecko." While there’s certainly nothing demonic about it, this little gecko can mimic a leaf.
They live in tropical forests off the coast of Madagascar. Interestingly, the males resemble a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects while females look like a fresh leaf. We’re guessing this one’s a male!
The Astounding Color-Changing Cuttlefish
Another camouflaged expert is the Cuttlefish. This fish is chameleon-esque and can change the colors of its skin depending on its environment. This amazing creature’s skin is made up of something called chromatophores. The cuttle fish has 200 chromatophores per square millimeter which is even more than a chameleon.
This fish also comes equipped with tiny muscles which it uses change its shape to match its environment. It can even mimic rocks and coral. Surprisingly, this "fish: is not a true fish! It’s something called a cephalopod which is a type of mollusk, like an octopus.
Humans Are Masters Of Disguise
Although we aren't naturally equipped with the ability to camouflage ourselves in our natural form, humans have learned to become skillful practicers of camouflage. Humans use clothes and items found in nature to blend in with our surroundings. This is mostly practiced by hunters, and soldiers in enemy territory.
Humans have done this for thousands of years, and it seems to be a product of human nature to attempt to blend in. Scientists also use camo to get closer to species they want to study. Seen in superhero movies and sci-fi novels, it's rumored that scientists are attempting to create an actual invisibility cloak.
This Caterpillar Flawlessly Blends Into A Leaf
It's almost impossible to find this baron caterpillar. The crafty caterpillar has adapted itself this way for protection against various predators. This little guy nearly perfectly blends into this leaf. They live in India and other parts of Southeast Asia and are particularly keen to feast on mango tree leaves much to the chagrin of mango farmers.
Even if this little guy wasn’t on a leaf, its legs resemble vegetation. It’s highly likely that you would overlook it as an insect and think it was a plant. Ultimately, the caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly- the male is brown while the female remains green.
