science education resource

Insect Adaptation - Camouflage Matching

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Animals use camouflage or cryptic coloration in many different ways. When an animal’s body color matches its surroundings, it’s called blending camouflage.When an animal has stripes, spots or other markings, these make the outline of their body hard to see and are called pattern camouflage. When an animal hides by looking like the plants it eats (or the plant its prey eats), it’s called disguise.

Some animals mimic the body coloring or actions of poisonous or bad tasting prey to benefit from that protection. Some animals enlarge themselves to discourage predators. Others try to startle a predator with a loud hiss, a flash of color or leaping. This is adaptive behavior.

Try the two activities below to test your understanding of adaptations.

 

Insect Adaptation - Camouflage
Insect Adaptation - Camouflage

Use Teacher Login to show answer keys or other teacher-only items.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.