In a nutshell, many animal and insect species from around the world have developed some sort of natural camouflage, with the main reasons being that it helps them find food and avoid being attacked. We’ve rounded up forty-two more animals and insects who have gone to the extreme with camouflaging. Continue reading see more.

In mimesis, the whole animal looks like some other object, which is of no special interest to the observing animal or enemy. :512,513 Mimesis is common in prey animals, for example when a Peppered Moth caterpillar mimics a twig, or a grasshopper mimics a dry leaf. :151

Mimesis is also employed by some predators (or parasites) to lure their prey. For example, a flower mantis mimics a particular kind of flower, such as an orchid. :134 This tactic has occasionally been used in warfare, for example with heavily armed Q-ships disguised as merchant ships.

As an example of mimesis, consider the Common Cuckoo, a brood parasite. The female lays her eggs in nests of other species of bird, always smaller than the cuckoo, one per nest. The female mimics a Sparrowhawk. This makes small birds take action to avoid the apparent predator. The female cuckoo then has time to lay her egg in their nest without being seen to do so. The cuckoo’s egg itself mimics the eggs of the host species, reducing its chance of being rejected.

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