Transcript Animal Behavior (Aposematism)

Note
Please watch this as a slide show as I
took time to add some animations.
Animal Behavior
(Camouflage)
By: Abhipsa Ujwal
Grade: 7
The act of concealing oneself from their predators or
prey through colors, patterns and disguises that help
them blend in with the background; also imitating
other things such as stick or leaves that look like
them.
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
Examples of Birds that use Camouflage
• Snow Owl
• Night hawks
• California Quail
• Great Horned Owl
• Himalayan Snow-Cock
• Sparrows
Examples of Birds that use Camouflage
• Snow Owl
• Night hawks
• California Quail
• Great Horned Owl
• Himalayan Snow-Cock
• Sparrows
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
Examples of Mammals that use Camouflage
•
White-tail deer
•
Zebra
•
Giraffe
•
Leopard
•
Tiger
Examples of Mammals that use Camouflage
•
White-tail deer
•
Zebra
•
Giraffe
•
Leopard
•
Tiger
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
Examples of Arthropods that use Camouflage
• Leaf Katydid
• Thorn Bug
• Walking Stick
• Grass Hopper
Grasshoppers
• Type of Camouflage: Concealing Coloration
• Colors: Greens or Browns and Yellows
The grasshopper is an insect and are found in green fields,
forests, dry or sandy places. The coloring of different
species of grasshopper are often dependent on
environment. Many species are green as they have
adapted to green fields and forests, and blend in well
there to avoid predators. Others have adapted to drier,
sandy environments and blend in well with the colors of
dry dirt and sand.
Grasshoppers: Life Cycle
•
Egg: The life cycle of grasshoppers starts with the egg stage. By mid-summer, the
female grasshopper lays the fertilized eggs either underneath the sand (about 1 - 2
inch depth) or among leaf litters. By spring or early summer when the temperature is
warm, the eggs hatch into nymphs.
• Nymph: Immediately after hatching, the young nymphs start feeding on soft and
succulent plant foliage. Nymphs are miniature versions of adult grasshoppers, except
that they are light in color and do not possess wings. The nymph stage may last for a
period of 5 - 10 days, based on the species and the weather condition.
• Adult: After 25 - 30 days, the wings are developed completely and the nymphs mature
into adults. Thus, by the time, an egg matures into an adult, the grasshopper is about
eleven months old. The adults survive for a span of about 30 days. As adults possess
wings, they are more mobile than the nymphs, which benefit them in have hunting
food and protecting from the predators.
(However, it is observed that every stage of the grasshopper has some predators.)
Examples of Arthropods that use Camouflage
• Leaf Katydid
• Thorn Bug
• Walking Stick
• Grass Hopper
Walking Stick
• Type of Camouflage: Disguise
• Colors: Greens, Greys, Tans or Browns
Walking stick insects live in a range of climates, from the
tropics to the temperate, as long as they have forest,
grasslands or other foliage to hide.
Their stick shape and brown or green color makes it easy
for them to blend into trees and other foliage to hide from
predators.
Walking Stick: Life Cycle
1. The walking sticks life cycle is like the grasshoppers.
2. It starts of as an egg: females lay around 100 to 1300
eggs.
3. The eggs hatch in 3-18 months and the nymph is born.
The nymphs look like the adults but smaller.
4. The nymphs molt and become adults in 3-12 months.
5. Their life span varies from 1-2 years.
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
Crocodile
Type of Camouflage: Concealing/
Disruptive coloration
Crocodiles are aquatic reptiles with acute senses that make them
excellent predators. They inhabit in the large shallow bodies of
freshwater or saltwater mostly in the warm, tropical regions of the
earth. A superb night vision helps them to be nocturnal hunters.
Crocodiles camouflage with the water. The water provides
camouflage whilst it hunts for its prey such as frogs, fish, birds and
mammals.
Crocodiles are the most social of reptiles. Even though they do not
form social groups, many species congregate in certain section
of rivers, tolerating each other at times of feeding and basking.
Crocodile: Life Cycle
The female crocodile digs a hole a couple of yards from the
river bank and up to 20 inches deep, and lays between 25
and 80 eggs. Multiple females may nest close together.
Once they are hatched, the female may lead the hatchlings
to water, or even carry them there, in her mouth where they
mature and learn how to survive.
Gaboon Viper
Type of Camouflage: Concealing Coloration
Colors: Black, Yellow & Brown
The Gaboon Vipers are solitary, nocturnal reptiles and are
found near in the dark places mostly in the rainforests.
The Gaboon Viper’s excellent camouflage allows them to hide
in leaves on the forest floor while waiting for prey. They feed
on small mammals, birds and amphibians such as frogs.
Gaboon Viper: Life Cycle
Gaboon males are longer than their females;
males are on an average three to four feet;
females are four to six feet. Breeding usually
takes place during the dry season when food is
less prevalent. Females give birth to 30 to 50
live young during the rainy season. Babies are
only five to seven inches long at birth. They
mature at about 3 to 5 years of age without any
parental care, as babies immediately disperse
after birth and begin their solitary lives.
• Insects, and other Arthropods
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Fish
• Mammals
Type of Camouflage: Disguise
These frogs are highly arboreal and rarely descend from high treetops
except for breeding. The gray tree frog is most common in forested areas
that are moist and near water.
It can camouflage using two colors green and grey. It turns green when
sitting on a moss-covered tree trunk. If found hiding on the side of a tree , it
will be hard to distinguish it from the tree bark. Depending on the color of
bark, it changes color to green or grey.
Eastern gray tree frogs are a source of food for a variety of predators, such
as skunks, possums, raccoons, and snakes. A way they can avoid these
predators is to camouflage with the tree bark.
During mating season, males gather in trees and
bushes and begin calling. The female chooses a mate
based on the call. She lays her eggs on the surface of
shallow water in ponds, swamps tire ruts, vernal pools
or even swimming pools. They are attached to
vegetation to keep them from floating away. The
female lays 2000 eggs in groups of 10-40. The tadpoles
hatch in 4-5 days and will change into froglets in about
2 months.
Conclusion
In nature, every advantage increases an animal's
chances of survival, and therefore its chances
of reproducing. This simple fact has caused animal
species to evolve a number of special adaptations that
help them find food and keep them from becoming
food. One of the most widespread and varied
adaptations is natural camouflage, an animal's ability to
hide itself from predator and prey.
The End
Hope you Enjoyed!

Bibliography
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
http://what-when-how.com/birds/himalayan-snowcock-birds/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper
http://www.ehow.com/about_6586905_walking-stick-insects.html
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nw4.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/whitetailed_deer.htm
http://leopardanimal.com/leopard-facts/leopard-life-cycle.php
http://www.tfsd.k12.id.us/ol/O'Leary%20Web%20Tech%20Fishtopia/lifecy
cle.html
• http://www.rainforestanimals.net/rainforestanimal/gaboonviper.html