Background matching is perhaps the most common camouflage tactic. Mimicry is when one organism looks or acts like an object or another organism. Some of these tactics, such as background matching and disruptive coloration, are forms of mimicry. Camouflage Tactics Environmental and behavioral factors cause species to employ a wide variety of camouflage tactics. Zebras’ black-and-white camouflage does not need to blend in to their habitat, the golden savanna of central Africa. Lions, the main predator of zebras, are color-blind.
If the predator is color-blind, for example, the prey species will not need to match the color of its surroundings. A species’ camouflage is also influenced by the behavior or characteristics of its predators. When clustered together, it is nearly impossible to tell one zebra from another, making it difficult for predators such as lions to stalk an individual animal. However, zebras are social animals, meaning they live and migrate in large groups called herds. The stripes on a zebra, for instance, make it stand out. Animals that live in groups differ from those that are solitary. The behavior of a species is also important. The arctic fox, for example, has a white coat in the winter, while its summer coat is brown. Animals with fur are more often camouflaged by season. Fur, on the other hand, can take weeks or even months to grow in. Feathers and scales can be shed and changed fairly regularly and quickly. Animals with fur rely on different camouflage tactics than those with feathers or scales, for instance. The physical characteristics of the organism are important. A species’ camouflage depends on several factors. This allows prey to avoid predators, and for predators to sneak up on prey. Organisms use camouflage to mask their location, identity, and movement. Camouflage, also called cryptic coloration, is a defense or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings.
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