Free the Ocean Blog
Nature's Masters of Disguise:
A hide and seek challenge
In the wild, standing out isn’t always a good thing. Across diverse landscapes, from the deepest oceans to the densest jungles, nature’s creatures have mastered the art of the stealthy vanishing act. On land, imagine a stick insect so convincingly twig-like that it fools not just predators but occasionally a bird looking for nesting materials! Meanwhile, beneath the waves, a fish blends seamlessly into the coral, waiting for the right moment to nab a passing snack.
But why this game of optical illusion? Simple: survival! For prey, it’s about avoiding becoming a tasty morsel, and for predators, it’s about sneaking up on their next meal. Ready for a challenge? Check out the gallery below and try to spot these sneaky species. Hint: It’s harder than you think!
Photo Credit: Tom Murphy, Nat Geo Image Collection
A crab spider is waiting to ambush its prey. These spiders change their color by molting to blend in with their surroundings.
Photo Credit: Jaime Culebras, Nat Geo Image Collection
A male reticulated glass frog is watching over his eggs while he hangs upside down on a leaf in Costa Rica.
Photo Credit: Peter R. Houlihan, Nat Geo Image Collection
Can you find the chameleon climbing this tree in Madagascar?
Photo Credit: Greg Lecoeur, Nat Geo Image Collection
The pygmy seahorse hides among the branches of a sea fan in Indonesia.
Photo Credit: Darlyne A. Murawski, Nat Geo Image Collection
In waters off the coast of Indonesia, the spindle cowry (a parasitic snail) matches its coral host.
Photo Credit: Peter R. Houlihan, Nat Geo Image Collection
The rare giant sphinx moth uses camouflage to rest up on a bald cypress tree at sunset.
