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Can you spot the predator? Masters of disguise blend into the background to survive kill-or-be-killed world
At first glimpse these pictures may look like nothing out of the ordinary - appearing to just show an ordinary leaf or a branch of a tree.
But on closer inspection you can spot some of nature's true masters of disguise playing a killer game of hide and seek.
From a katydid disguised as a leaf to a tiny Pygmy Seahorse camouflaged in sea fan in Papua New Guinea, these images showcase the creatures who can quite literally blend into the background.
 
Nothing out of the ordinary: A Leaf mimic katydid is an uncanny addition to a group of leaves, left, and a Lichen-mimic katydid is barely noticeable camouflaged on tree
Illusionist: A leaf-mimic katydid - also known as a bush-cricket - camouflaged to look like a dead leaf to hide itself from predators
 
Masters of disguise: An Oak beauty caterpillar branching out, left, and a Hooded mantis hiding among leaves in a Costa Rican tropical rainforest
arking up the wrong tree: A common potoo - a nocturnal bird which breeds in tropical Central and South America - blending into the bark on a tree branch
Hiding in the deep: A tiny Pygmy Seahorse, which only grow up to 2cms, pictured at 130 feet below sea level on a sea fan in Papua New Guinea
Making no mark: Another leaf mimic katydid shows off its incredible camouflaging skills by mimicking the leaf it is standing on
The talented animals have the ability to camouflage themselves within their environment to hide from predators as a means of survival in the natural world.
The creatures photographed in this series of images use two basic methods of concealment in a bid to hide from predators and catch prey.
Some animals, such as the flat fish, use their colour to blend into a background making them barely visible.
Whereas others, such as the Katydid, cleverly mimic their surroundings using their shape, colour and texture to become part of the landscape.
Photographer John Cancalosi who captured these images of camouflage animals said the animals used their talent to remain hidden from predators.
Creepy crawler: A well camouflaged large huntsman spider, which uses its venom to paralyse its prey, but is thought to not be particularly dangerous to healthy humans
Lying in wait: The eyes of a flatfish peering up from its seafloor are the only thing that reveals its hiding place
Keeping a keen eye: John Cancalosi, who took this snap of a tiny red crab camouflaged on a Sea Fan in Papua New Guinea, said even he sometimes struggles to spot the creatures he photographs
In the eye of the beholder: A Lantern fly - a Central and South American planthopper - captured in a defensive display by photographer John Cancalosi
He said some had mastered the art of invisible so well it was a challenge for him to even spot them.
He said: 'Katydids look so much like leaves in their colour, detail and texture, it actually looks like the leaves are copying the katydids.
'They are so used to pretending to be leaves they have the ability to remain completely still.
'There are also caterpillars who are such good leaf mimics when the wind blows they'll move themselves so as to appear like dead leaves blowing in the wind. It really is quite amazing to witness.'
Where's Wanda?: A triplefin fish, found around the coast of New Zealand at depths of about 15m, swimming by tunicates to blend in
The invisible shrimp: A transparent anemone shrimp, found in many coral reefs around the world, hidden in an anemone
A prickly pink customer: A well-camouflaged majid crab crawling across a soft pink coral
Blending in: A small shrimp surrounded by the stinging tentacles of a sea anemone which feed on small fish and shrimp
Undercover creature: A Leaf mimic katydid camouflaged to look like leaf for defence from predators
Impressive disguise: A grasshopper camouflaged like a dead leaf is almost completely unrecognisable |
發表於 2012-10-12 06:55 AM
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