[SR] Built for Camouflage

This is the second article in the 4-part mini series, "Built for...", to access the other 3 articles click on the links above this.

Out of millions of animals, 3 are selected based on their outstanding ability to camouflage, to blend in, and sometimes to seem to disappear completely. This is Built for Camouflage.

Leafy Seadragon

The first animal is the Leafy Seadragon. It is type of seahorse that lives in Southern Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body.

These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The lobes of skin that grow on the leafy seadragon gives it the appearance of seaweed. It is able to maintain the illusion when swimming, appearing to move through the water like a piece of floating seaweed.

Dead Leaf Butterfly

If you thought that was spectacular, watch this.

This amazing animal is called the dead leaf butterfly. And I am sure you can see that is spectacular.  With wings closed, it closely resembles a dry leaf with dark veins and is a spectacular example of camouflage. Its name is also derived from its appearance, as it REALLY closely resembles a dead leaf. 

Just look at the detail of the "leaf" that the butterfly has
adapted  to form!!!

Chameleon

These animals of course win this race for the best camouflaged animal. It can change from pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise and purple in an instant. And further more, it can change which areas turn what colour, so it can create patterns with its colours as well.

Chameleons have specialized cells, chromatophores, which contain pigments in their cytoplasm, in three layers below their transparent outer skin:

1. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively.
2. Below these is a second layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores; these contain guanine, appearing blue or white.
3. The deepest layer of cells, melanophores, contain the dark pigment melanin, controlling how much light is reflected.

Dispersion of the pigment granules in the chromatophores sets the intensity of each color. When the pigment is equally distributed in a chromatophore, the whole cell is intensively colored. When the pigment is located only in the centre of the cell, the cell appears mainly transparent. Chromatophores can rapidly relocate their particles of pigment, thereby influencing the animal's color. Chromatophores change because the cells get a message from the brain.

Scientists think that Chameleon changes colour not for camouflage but to express their mood, reflect or absorb heat. That is why, they may seem to be very colourful and doing the opposite of camouflaging.

Not really difficult to spot right?

But, if they were to be able to use it for camouflage, and control each individual cell to match the surroundings, how awesome would that be??? Just the very thought of it, allows the chameleon to deserve the number 1 spot. That and this awesome video. Note: the video has probably the weirdest music I've heard. Ever.