How do animals get their camouflage colors?
The color of an animal’s scales, fur or feathers comes from pigments in the animal’s skin cells. Groups of pigments make different colors or patterns. When a skin cell’s pigments change, the color of the animal’s outer covering changes, too. Sometimes, this change is slow. For example, young animals undergo color changes as they grow into adults. The color change can follow changing seasons, too, especially where winter brings lots of snow. In the far north, animals often have white fur or feathers in winter. When spring melts the snows, the white fur and feathers fall out. Pigments in the skin cells change. When new feathers and fur grow in, they match the new color or pattern of the landscape. The color change can also happen within minutes. Frogs, toads and some fish can change the colors of their skin or scales to match a surface that’s near them. What kinds of camouflage are there? An animal may have a solid body color that matches the color of its environment. A green katydid or
