DISGUISE
Disguise is another way of hiding, in which the animal blends into its surroundings or environment. It many cases, the colouring of some animals acts as protection from their predators. For example the ‘walking stick’ insect and the Italian Leaf Butterfly (Kallima inachus) blends so well that they are virtually invisible when they are standing still. Camouflage also works in reverse; helping predators such as boa constrictors, to sneak up on preys and surprise them.
Protective coloration is colouring that protects a plant or animal from its enemies. There are several forms of protective coloration that deceive enemies or warn them away. For example the Colombian Boa Constrictor has cryptic coloration, which blends in very easily with fallen leaves. In other words, the colour and colour pattern of this red-tailed boa blend in with the surroundings so that it is not easily discovered. Its brown and tan colour provides good camouflage for the forest floor, especially when it hunts for birds and small mammals at night.
The sloth, though they can defend themselves with sharp claws, their main form of protection is the ability to disguise. The three-toed sloth is born with brown fur, but it is not obvious to the eyes. This is because blue and green algae grow on its coat. These algae help the mammal to blend in the green foliage, where it lives. However, algae are not the only living thing that lives in a sloth’s fur. Moths and nettles do settle down in their coat too! Although many living creatures such as jaguars and harpy eagles (even humans) hunt sloths, it is not easy to spot them. One reason is because they hang quietly in the trees, high up in the canopy, with their algae-encrusting fur adding to the camouflage effect. Their slow movement adds on to the difficulty to spot them.
Others such as the Giant Walking Stick Insect have a very strange structure. Its appearance can easily deceive its enemies and predators. Walking sticks have long bodies, legs, antennae, and green or brown colouring that makes them look like twigs or branch. Besides, they are usually the colour of the branch they stand on. When these insects are alarmed, they stand still. This makes it even difficult to distinguish them from their surroundings.
Discovered only in early this century is the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni). It is believed to be a dead ringer for the rainforest ancestor of the giraffe. Its brown color and striped pattern helps it blend into its surrounding at a distance of just 80 ft (25m). As it lives in rainforests and the ground is covered with brown rotting leaves, the okapi are extremely well camouflaged. However, not much is known about the life of this shy animal.