Animals, Insects
There are more than 60 animals and insect species that can easily get camouflage or blend with their environment and it's difficult to recognize them in one sight. The term camouflage means the special ability to hide or mixed into their respective habitat without knowing the others, by changing the color pigment, or by adjusting the body posture. They take it as an advantage and help them to protect themselves from predators or to catch the prey. Five types of camouflage are dominantly used by these creatures that are color matching, self-decoration, disruptive coloration, active camouflage, and mimesis. They seem very amazing by doing camouflage.
Here is the list of the top 5 creature which having unbelievable camouflage ability so you must be benefited by knowing about them.
#1 GRASSHOPPER
A grasshopper is a group of insects that belongs to the Caelifera suborder and Acrididae family. Their species population is listed under the least concern IUCN Red List.
Its scientific name is Caelifera.
They are mostly found in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Europe, Central America, North America, South America, and Oceania. There are a total of 11,000 known Caelifera insect species that have been found.
Their habitat is mainly in the open field and pastureland.
The average size of a grasshopper is about 2 inches but some larger grasshopper may grow more than 5 inches.
The body is mainly divided into head, thorax, and abdomen. They have 2 large antennas, 6 pairs of legs and 2 pairs of wings are present. Their legs are very strong which helps them to take the higher jump.
The body can be of different colors like green, brown, and yellow.
Their color there is match their environment it can be a simple way to blend with the surrounding and the grasshopper is an example of a color matching camouflage.
They are herbivores so they feed on plants, grasses, or cereal crops.
#2 LEAF LITTER TOAD
The leaf litter toad is also an amazing species of toad. They belong to the Anura order and Bufonidae family. They are listed in the least concern of the IUCN Red List.
Its scientific name is Leptolalax lavi.
They are found in tropical regions such as Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Northwestern Ecuador, and Venezuela.
Their habitat is especially dense tropical forest, submontane humid forest, and moist forest. They are both live in terrestrial and freshwater.
The size of the adult male is smaller than the female. Their body structure is similar to a toad. They have a gland called ventrolated which is distinctly visible. The tympanum is noticeable and there lateral edges on the finger but the absence of Web.
They can mix with the surrounding by using more than one color stain and the leaf litter toad is an example of disruptive coloration camouflage.
They mainly diet on a small ant.
#3 MUSKED HUNTER BUG
The Musked hunter bug is a remarkable insect species. They belong to the Hemiptera order and are an assassin bug of the Reduviidae family.
Its scientific name is Reduvius personatus.
They are Originally from Europe, but their species are now moreover found in the Eastern United States, including Minnesota.
They naturally inhabit outside in any dry location.
The length of the body is from 17-22 mm. The head is short and elongated, pairs of long antenna present, a broad abdomen with some lateral segment and wings are present. They are mainly dark brown to black.
The Musked hunter bug is wisely using its surroundings by applying some grains into its bodies to blend in with the environment. It is the best example of self-decoration camouflage.
They feed on small arthropods comprising earwigs, lacewings, woodlice, and bed bugs.
#4 CHAMELEON
The Chameleon is an interesting reptile species of the order Squamata and belongs to the Chamaeleonidae family. They have been listed in the least concern IUCN Red List.
Its scientific name is Chamaeleonidae.
The Chameleon in the Old World but now found in the landmass of Madagascar island, Africa, some parts of the Middle East, Southern India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and a few in the Western Indian Ocean island.
They inhabit most of the habitat including tropical forest, tropical rain forest, desert, and a few mountains. They are arboreal so they usually live in small bushes or trees.
They can be of different sizes. The body and head are laterally compressed. The eyes can be rotated separately by 360 degrees vision. Tympanum and tympanic cavity absent, the tongue is protisisutle, limbs are relatively large and the tail is long prehensile. The color of the body can change into multiple colors.
The Chameleon can change its colors quickly. The colors and patterns on their body help them regulate their body temperature because they are endothermic and to send single if any conditions and intentions to other Chameleon although also help them to blend with the environment. The Chameleon is an example of active camouflage.
The average size Chameleon feed on small insects such as mantids, grasshopper, crickets, locust, and stick insect. But the large Chameleon eats small lizards and birds or sometimes plant materials.
#5 LEAF TAILED GECKO
The Leaf-tailed gecko is an extraordinary animal species. They belong to the Squamata order and Gekkonidae family. They are listed in the least concern IUCN Red List.
Its scientific name is Uroplatus phantasticus.
This species is especially found in the Northern and Central tropical forest of Madagascar.
They are arboreal so they spend most of their time on trees, humid and forest of lowlands.
The size of an adult leaf-tailed gecko is up to 90 mm. Their eyes have no eyelids but a transparent covering. They have a unique leaf-like tail. The color of their body is orange, yellow, purple but also molted brown with smaller dots on the underside of their body.
The Leaf-tailed gecko has a leaf-like appears tail which is like mimic leave, or other object that help to fool the predators unknowingly to further blend in with their surroundings easily. The Leaf-tailed gecko is the best example of mimesis camouflage.
They diet on roaches, small snails, and crickets.
Insects
"Butterflies are nature's angles. They remind us what a gift it is to be alive."
- by Robyn Nola
Butterflies are a very wonderful insect, which always grabs our attention toward them. They can be easily found in our greenery environment. They belong to the phylum Arthropoda of order Lepidoptera. There are around 20,000 butterfly species are present in this world. They are of different sizes, shapes, and spectacular pigments or colors which makes them unique from each other. Their average life around 2 weeks. Some species hardly live a day or 2 and other species are capable of living around 9 months. The interesting fact is that their reproduction and survival are depicted by their colors.
Here are the 5 most unique and beautiful butterfly species which are described below and that may benefit you to know more about them.
#1 PEACOCK PANSY
Mostly found in Cambodia and South Asia. It is listed as the least concern in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red List.
Scientific Classification
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Junonia
Species: J.almana
Binomial Nomenclature: Junonia almanac
Features
The adult butterfly has a 54-62 cm(2.1-2.4 in).
The pattern on the underside of the wings changes chiefly during two distinct adult forms.
The dry- season form has few markings, while the wet- season form has extra eyespots and lines.
Larval stages
The caterpillars of Junonia almanac, food feed on a variety of plants, including Hygrophila auriculata, Phyla nodiflora, and species in the general Acanthus, Barleria, and Gloxinia.
#2 SYPHINA ANGEL
It is found in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. They inhabit the cloud forest species at an altitude between about 2000-3000 m.
Scientific Classification
Family: Riodinidae
Genus: Chorinea
Species: C.sylphnia
Binomial name: Chorinea sylphide
Features
They have a transparent wing reflect in numerous iridescent green, blue, and pink.
The adult usually flies during sunshine, but sometimes settle beneath the leaves of bushes.
Larval Stage
They laid the underside of leaves of the food plant which includes Prionostema (Hippocrataceae) and Maytenus ( Celastraceae).
#3 EMERALD SWALLOWTAIL
It is also known as Emerald peacock or green- banded Peacock. It is native to Southeast Asia due to their unique coloration, people use to keep in their houses regularly around the world. Emerald lives in an Asian primary forest.
Scientific Classification
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: papilio
Binomial Nomenclature: Papilio palinurus
Features
They have a wingspan of about 8-10 cm ( 3.1-3.9in)
Outer side wings are covered by dusky green scales and the background varies from dark greenish to black.
Dusky dark green with a sudden streak of radiation green angled on either side.
Inside are black with orange, white, and blue spots along the edges of hindwings.
They can take a high-velocity flight.
Larval stage
Caterpillar feeds on plants of the genus Euodia belonging to the Rutaceae family.
#4 GLASSWINGED BUTTERFLY
It is mainly found in the Central and Northern regions of South American as far south as Chile, with the appearance of the north as Mexico and Texas.
Their habitat in the Tropical rainforest in the Central and South American countries.
Scientific Classification
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Greta
Species: G.oto
Binomial Nomenclature: Greta oto
Features
The length of the butterflies is 2.8-3.0 cm(1.1-1.2 in).
Have a wingspan of 5.6-6.1 cm(2.2-2.4 in).
Their bodies are a grimy brown color.
Adult wings with opaque and dark brown borders stained with red or orange with a lack of tiny scales on their wings.
Larval Stage
The caterpillar of this phase has a green color body with bright purple and red lines.
They are found on the host plants of the genus Cestrum.
#5 BLUE MORPHO
Mostly found in South America, Mexico, and Central America. The genus of these butterflies consists of over 29 species and 147 subspecies occur.
Inhabit the primary forests of the Amazon and Atlantic, Morphos are found at altitudes between sea level and about a range of 1,400 m(4,600 ft).
Scientific Classification
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Morpho
Tribe: Morphine
Species Type: Morpho achilles
Features
Morpho wingspan range from 7.5 cm(3.0 in).
The dorsal side of their wings only presents iridescent lamellae, leaving the ventral side down.
The female is a little duller colored partially iridescent, but males have bluer iridescent than females.
Larval Stage
The caterpillar grew with reddish-brown bodies and with a bright-line grown or yellow patches on their back.
They have grown some fine hairs on their skin which can feel irritation on the human body surface.
From their bodies, strong disgust odors come which help them to protect or defense against the predators.
They feed on a variety of plants like Moraceae, Guttiferal, Canellaceae, etc.
