Spot These 16 Animals That Are Perfectly Camouflaged

Some skilled hide-and-go-seek players would be surprised by what certain animal species are able to do. And they don’t just like to find a hiding spot where predators won’t see them. Instead, these species literally blend in with the environment. Some of the best masters of disguise can change their color to mimic their surroundings. Doing this allows these animals to become invisible. Even hiders without this ability can completely camouflage themselves nicely. Hence, their skin or coat color will automatically match the things around them. 

Leaf-Tailed Gecko

The leaf-tailed gecko mimics the appearance of dead leaves, complete with veins and ragged edges. By flattening its body against tree bark, the leaf-tailed gecko becomes invisible in its habitat. To successfully remain unseen, this species becomes motionless in its environment. Unfortunately, the leaf-tailed gecko has no eyelids and so uses its tongue to keep its eyes clean.

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish look very similar to squid, but they’re unique in many ways. This species has specialized chromatophores (color-changing cells) with which it changes its skin color and texture. Having these features allows the animal to blend in with rocks and reefs. Cuttlefish also produce light through bioluminescence, which helps them communicate and deters predators.

Vietnamese Mossy Frog

The Vietnamese mossy frog has green and black moss-like skin. This unique feature helps it hide among the wet rocks and foliage in Vietnam’s northern forests. By staying immobile and damp, both predators and prey won’t notice it. Being damp allows this animal to absorb water through its skin, which helps with the camouflaged appearance. Additionally, it ensures the Vietnamese Mossy Frog doesn’t suffer dehydration.

Mimic Octopus

Thanks to its ability to mimic other marine animals, the Mimic Octopus is a true doppelganger. Using its flexible body and remarkable color-changing skills, it can adopt the appearance of certain animals. They include lionfish, flatfish, and even jellyfish to evade predators. To complete the act, the Mimic Octopus also copies the behavior of the animals it is mimicking. 

Mountain Hare

The mountain hare changes its fur color according to the season. In summer, its brown coat blends with the earthy ground. But in winter, its coat turns white to match the snow. It’s arguably more difficult for predators to see the hare when there’s snowfall. This is as a result of the snowy appearance of the environment, except for the trees. Top that off with the hare’s agility and speed, and you’ve got a valuable hide-and-go-seek teammate. 

Chameleon

Chameleons are strange animals in their own right, being able to move each eye independently. This feature essentially gives these animals panoramic vision. On top of that, chameleons can change their color at will. One simple way they do this is by expanding and contracting special pigment cells in their skin. Chameleons also shoot their tongues out of their mouths in an incredibly fast and funny manner. This is helpful for grabbing and devouring insects on a daily basis. 

Glass Frog

If you ever wanted to see what an animal looks like inside, the glass frog is your best bet. In the dim light of the rainforest, the frog’s translucent skin helps it hide from predators. Since the animal becomes nearly invisible, it can easily move to a safe spot. For us, though, seeing its insides clearly can either cause fascination or disgust. 

Tawny Frogmouth

The Tawny Frogmouths always look like they’re judging you for something, but you can’t quite tell what. Jokes aside, this bird uses stillness to avoid detection, mimicking a broken branch. They usually do this when roosting to hide from predators. Tawny frogmouths are often mistaken for owls, but they are more closely related to nightjars.

Walking Stick Insect

Guess what? The walking stick insects look like a stick that walks. Seeing this insect walk can be amusing and fascinating. Funny thing though, while these insects usually sit motionless, mimicking a stick, they have a little dance they do. And they do it to mimic the swaying of branches in the wind. Talk about being dedicated to your acting role. 

Leaf Insect

The leaf insect likes to mimic a tree part on a leaf. Its green color and leaf-like shape hide it perfectly among real leaves. This makes it incredibly difficult for predators to see the insect. The leaf insect also copies the movement of leaves in the wind. Would a leaf insect and a walking stick insect make a tree? We’ll never know. 

Dead Leaf Butterfly

The Dead Leaf Butterfly looks just like a dried leaf when it closes its wings. The underside of its wings is brown and textured, complete with midribs and veins to complete the disguise. This species of butterfly is probably deathly afraid of being stepped on. So it avoids people who like hearing the crunch of dead leaves under their feet. 

Gaboon Viper

The Gaboon Viper can be a nightmare for people in Africa because it is very hard to spot. Hence, it is easy to accidentally step on them without noticing. Its scales have a pattern of brown, gold, and purple that blends perfectly with the forest floor’s leaves. The Gaboon Viper has the longest fangs of any snake, reaching up to two inches in length. It’s not surprising that when people see these creatures, they always want to harm them. 

Decorator Crab

No, the Decorator Crab won’t decorate your home, it’s a bit of a large undertaking for it. Regardless, its skills are still impressive. This crab uses bits of seaweed, sponges, and other materials to cover its shell. It literally builds itself to match the environment, and if that’s not hardcore, nothing is. You go, little decorator crab, godspeed!

Sand Crab

Another crab that prefers hiding to fighting is the sand crab. Here’s one thing about this crab – it loves sand (even though it’s coarse and gets everywhere). The crab digs into the sand, leaving only its eyes and the edge of its shell visible. Anything that comes close is either grabbed swiftly or ignored. This mostly depends on whether it’s prey or a predator looking for a crunchy bite to eat. 

Peppered Moth

The Peppered moth lives mostly in Europe and North America. It can change its wing color to match the bark of trees, which makes hiding easy. During the day, the peppered moth rests on tree trunks, blending in with the lichen-covered bark. On the contrary, it’s highly active during the night when it searches for food. 

Pygmy Seahorse

This tiny, pinkish animal looks like a bizarre piece of bubble gum. It changes color and grows tiny tubercles that match the texture of coral. Even if they didn’t have the ability to change their color, it would be near impossible for most animals to notice them. Fortunately, the pygmy seahorse is smaller than a fingernail.

12 Scary Creatures of the Planet

12 Scary Creatures of the Planet