The Hidden and Revealed

Next we studied where and how camouflage takes place. So we did plenty of research, and lo and behold. Suddenly the animal kingdom starts to seem very high tech. Our stealth fighters and anti-radar systems have nothing close to the camouflage firepower of the creatures who live in the rainforests, or on the ocean floor.

Camouflaging As Coral

Cuttlefish Displaying Hypnotic Patterns To Confuse Prey

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish are one of the smartest sea creatures. They are covered in million little chromatophores, cells which contain different pigments. They can control the colours in them by relaxing and contracting the muscles around them, allowing different pigments to show through the elastic cells.

Camouflage also occurs in human society and in our environment. Changing one's personality to blend into a group, or changing one's ways and habits to look 'cool' or to fit into one's peer group is something we might see others doing or doing ourselves. Even eating high calorie foods is a camouflage to make ourselves feel better after getting a bad grade, or after a break up.


The opposite of camouflage, contrast, also makes for a good read. Animals such as the Poison Dart Frog, and the Mimic Octopus display bright colours to ward off prey and warn them of their poisonous characteristics.

Trippy Much?

Mimic Octopus Camouflaging and then Revealing

Similarly, contrast also regularly takes place in the human society. Some people wish to stand out, so they buy expensive clothes, cars and other material object to make themselves stand out from the crowd. Why do people want to be famous? To stand out from the crowd. Some people also prefer to read certain books or watch certain movies and even dress oddly to stand out. Strange isn't it, the human society.