Masters of Disguise: These Animals Have Perfected The Art Of Camouflauge

Throughout the years, species adapt to blend into their surroundings. These astounding camouflage skills were spurned in order for the animals to protect themselves from various predators and harsh elements in their environment. From insects to humans, all kinds of creatures have this fascinating ability. See if you can spot these sneaky animals. Researchers rank #6 the meanest creature ever created!

Talk About “Saltie”

Martin Harvey/Corbis/Getty Images
Martin Harvey/Corbis/Getty Images

This amazingly hidden creature is the saltwater crocodile. These crocodiles are also known as “salties." They also happen to be the largest of all reptiles currently living in the world, and some have been known to reach up to twenty-three feet long! Salties typically live in brackish swamps and are found everywhere from India to Australia.

This guy is known to be an exceptionally fierce predator and is even known to overpower sharks. They're considered the most dangerous crocodile to humans. You can only make out the Saltie’s eye in this photo, which somehow makes him even more of a terrifying predator!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Magic of Tiger Stripes

ADVERTISEMENT
Steve Winter/National Geographic/Getty Images
Steve Winter/National Geographic/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

We typically think of tigers as powerful, striking creatures, rather than an animal capable of camouflaging themselves. However, if you take a look at this photo you can see that in certain backdrops a tiger’s stripes actually come in handy. For many years tigers existed widely across the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sadly, within the past one hundred years their population has dropped significantly, and they are now considered an endangered species. The remaining tiger species are closely monitored with various dedicated conservation efforts. One thing is certain, tigers remain one of the most majestic creatures on planet Earth.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Haunting Pallid Scops Owl

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Noorhussain/iStock/Getty Images
Noorhussain/iStock/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Do you see this one? This is a pallid scops owl and definitely warrants more than a second glance. This owl has feathers with markings that almost perfectly blend in with the bark of a tree. These creatures are found in a variety of areas ranging from the Middle East to Central Asia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Owls are already known to cause a few scares now and then with their eerie calls and stares. This owl is said to have a low “dove-like call” which would be all the more surprising with its impressive camouflage!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Flower Mimicking Mantis

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Isn’t nature amazing? This orchid mantis looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. The species doesn’t get its name for living on an orchid, but for looking like one. It usually comes in shades of pink and white and is found in Malaysia.

ADVERTISEMENT

This dazzling creature is also known for being able to change colors slightly based on humidity and light exposure. People often try to keep it as a pet because of how amazing it is to look at, although it does not have a long life span.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Cutest Coral-Crafted Seahorse

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Stephen Frink/Image Source/Getty Images
Stephen Frink/Image Source/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This expertly camouflaged creature is called a pygmy seahorse, and it's one of the smallest seahorses in the world. Here the seahorse blends in nearly perfectly with the coral. These tiny creatures live in Southeast Asia, with several species of pygmy seahorses.

ADVERTISEMENT

The first discovered, pictured above, only lives near fan corals. The seahorses can match the color and the texture of the coral. This species is super tiny and extremely easy to miss as they are only a few centimeters in length!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Meanest Creature

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Borut Furlan/WaterFrame/Getty Images
Borut Furlan/WaterFrame/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Another interesting camouflaged fish, of the terrifying variety, is the stargazer fish. This fish has eyes on the top of its head and buries itself in the sand. However, it has an even crazier facial feature: a massive mouth with fanged teeth. This species also has a “worm-shaped lure” that comes out its mouth to hunt its prey.

ADVERTISEMENT

This fish lives throughout the world in both shallow and deep oceans. They're poisonous, have a venomous spine, and deliver electric shocks. This fish has been called “the meanest thing in creation” by scientists, and we have to agree.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Cutest Camouflage

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Matthias Breiter/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
Matthias Breiter/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Arctic fox is without a doubt, one of the cutest entries on the list. Also referred to as a polar fox, they live in the Arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. The fox’s fur is very thick to protect it from the extreme cold. The snowy white appearance aids in blending in.

ADVERTISEMENT

This species doesn’t have a long lifespan in the wild, living an average of four years. The fox is an omnivore and eats both small mammals like lemmings in addition to berries and seaweed. They build their dens in a complex underground chain. One of the unique features of this species is that they are monogamous and raise their children with their partner!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Majestic, Mythological Jaguar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Bex Ross/Flickr
Bex Ross/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

This beautiful big cat is a jaguar. Jaguars live primarily in the southwestern part of the United States into Mexico and Central America. The species is extremely rare in the U.S., due to various environmental issues including the destruction of its native habitat.

ADVERTISEMENT

The jaguar lives in tropical and subtropical forests and is often found near water. (They like to swim!) Although poaching this cat is internationally prohibited, people hunt it. The cat also has mythological meaning for the indigenous people of the Americas and is often seen in Mayan and Aztec artwork.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Tiny Bird Matches The Desert

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
K K/Wikimedia Commons
K K/Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT

At first glance, it certainly looks like this is a rock, but it's an Egyptian Nightjar. This bird is a native species of the desert and live around the world. They are one of the only birds known to thrive in the desert. The color of its feathers blends in with the surrounding landscape. These birds are quite small and are also nocturnal, which is why the bird above looks to be sleeping.

ADVERTISEMENT

These tiny unassuming birds are also subject to a scary myth. They are sometimes called “goatsuckers” and are thought to steal goats' milk at night. While they do like to hang around goats and other livestock, they are more interested in the insects hovering around the animals rather than the animal itself.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Moth Looks Exactly Like Leaves

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Lappet moth is another of nature’s fantastical creations. The moth appears very similar to dried oak leaves. If you didn’t know any better, you could mistake it for a batch of fresh fall leaves. This crafty bug lives in southern Britain, where you can spot them during the summer months.

ADVERTISEMENT

Like all moths, the lappet moth is attracted to light. And as with many species, the female is bigger than the male. It's too easy to accidentally step on one of these insects, jumping into a pile of leaves. That would be a sad day.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Largest Moths In The World

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Saturniidae Moth is a fascinating and breathtaking species. It is one of the largest moth species in the world. In addition to extensive wings, their bodies “hair-like” scales cover their body which aid in their striking appearance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many also have transparent windows on their wings. Here we see a bright yellow-colored Saturniid which matches perfectly against a background of yellowed leaves. This species is found all over the world, predominantly in wooded and subtropical regions.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Quintessential Camouflaged Insect

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
KarSol/iStock/Getty Images
KarSol/iStock/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Perhaps one of the most well-known insects with the ability to camouflage itself is the walking sticking, also known as the Phasmatodea. These insects are found throughout the world, ranging from the Americas to Australia and Europe- every continent except for Antartica.

ADVERTISEMENT

This bug gets its name from its amazing natural camouflage which comes in the form of looking like a stick. Their appearance makes it easy for this type of creature to avoid predators. Additionally, many members of the walking stick species can shoot out secretions for protective purposes as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Flounder Has Periscope Eyes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Scubaluna/iStock/Getty Images
Scubaluna/iStock/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you’re a scuba diver, you might want to watch out! It's very easy to step on this guy, the wide-eye flounder. Aptly named, this fish has a strange flat shape which it uses to its advantage. The creature buries itself in sand or rock on the bottom of the ocean floor. This species uses its wide-set eyes and flat body to protect itself from various predators.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is found in multiple oceans including the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Sea where it mainly eats fish and worms. One of the strangest features of this particular fish is its eyes. They serve as periscopes and can rotate a full 180 degrees

ADVERTISEMENT

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Camouflaged Itself

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although this little guy looks as though he is merely an extension of the plant he is sitting on, he’s a spider. This spider is the Micrommata visercens and is quite impressive because of the beautiful bright green shade they come in. The females are a bright green while the males are a darker olive color.

ADVERTISEMENT

These spiders live in Northern and Central Europe in forests, meadows, and woodlands. Although a bite from one of these creatures would certainly hurt, it would not kill you as they are not particularly poisonous. Experts say that while there might be a bit of swelling and pain, it should stop within a two day period.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Perfect Disguise Of The Katydid

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Auscape/UIG via Getty Images
Auscape/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

And here is yet another selection from the group of animals who look like leaves. This is the leaf-mimicking katydid or the pterophylla camellifolia. This katydid is one of the most recently discovered of all species on this list. It lives in Sabah which is a part of Malaysia.

ADVERTISEMENT

The body of this katydid has “vein-like structures” which mimic the veins of a leaf. The coloring and even the appearance of the bug’s texture make it appear to be a real leaf. In this species the females are reddish-pink, and the males are green, although both resemble actual leaves.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Spider Hides Itself With Bark

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Barcroft Media/Getty Images
Barcroft Media/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This creature is the long-spinnered bark spider which perfectly blends with the bark of a tree. This spider family exists in a variety of shades including cream, orange, grey, and black. They are also extremely quick and like most spiders, can easily scurry and disappear into tiny cracks and crevices.

ADVERTISEMENT

They are originally found in South Africa but are found throughout the world. One quirky feature of this spider is that they do not spin webs. Rather, they wrap their prey in silk and eat it on the spot. They also practice another former of camouflage. After spinning an egg sac they add bits of bark debris to prevent it from being detected.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nothing Satanic About This Gecko

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Barcroft Media/Getty Images/Getty Images
Barcroft Media/Getty Images/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you didn’t know better, you would never give this guy a second look. This fantastic work of nature is called a “satanic leaf-tail gecko." While there’s certainly nothing demonic about it, this little gecko can mimic a leaf.

ADVERTISEMENT

They live in tropical forests off the coast of Madagascar. Interestingly, the males resemble a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects while females look like a fresh leaf. We’re guessing this one’s a male!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Astounding Color-Changing Cuttlefish

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Paul Kli/Wikimedia Commons
Paul Kli/Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT

Another camouflaged expert is the Cuttlefish. This fish is chameleon-esque and can change the colors of its skin depending on its environment. This amazing creature’s skin is made up of something called chromatophores. The cuttle fish has 200 chromatophores per square millimeter which is even more than a chameleon.

ADVERTISEMENT

This fish also comes equipped with tiny muscles which it uses change its shape to match its environment. It can even mimic rocks and coral. Surprisingly, this "fish: is not a true fish! It’s something called a cephalopod which is a type of mollusk, like an octopus.

ADVERTISEMENT

Humans Are Masters Of Disguise

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jose D. Lujano/DVIDSHUB/Flickr
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jose D. Lujano/DVIDSHUB/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

Although we aren't naturally equipped with the ability to camouflage ourselves in our natural form, humans have learned to become skillful practicers of camouflage. Humans use clothes and items found in nature to blend in with our surroundings. This is mostly practiced by hunters, and soldiers in enemy territory.

ADVERTISEMENT

Humans have done this for thousands of years, and it seems to be a product of human nature to attempt to blend in. Scientists also use camo to get closer to species they want to study. Seen in superhero movies and sci-fi novels, it's rumored that scientists are attempting to create an actual invisibility cloak.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Caterpillar Flawlessly Blends Into A Leaf

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Wohin Auswandern/Flickr
Wohin Auswandern/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

It's almost impossible to find this baron caterpillar. The crafty caterpillar has adapted itself this way for protection against various predators. This little guy nearly perfectly blends into this leaf. They live in India and other parts of Southeast Asia and are particularly keen to feast on mango tree leaves much to the chagrin of mango farmers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Even if this little guy wasn’t on a leaf, its legs resemble vegetation. It’s highly likely that you would overlook it as an insect and think it was a plant. Ultimately, the caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly- the male is brown while the female remains green.