Camouflage in Nature: Changing Colour for Survival

Throughout the long history of evolution, animals have adapted their bodies in order to survive and colour has always been a basic part of these strategies. The ability of certain animals to change their colour developed at the same rate as their ability to change behaviour and shape. Some can seem to completely disappear from view. In the same way, animals gradually invented new techniques and strategies, changing into a stone, a leaf or even another animal. Colour can also be used to make animals more conspicuous - a kind of warning that means "keep off" - to highlight a potentially dangerous situation. Bright red, flourescent yellow and an intense black are all used in this way. This book illustrates the world of colour and the adaptations animals have made in this area.