Planet Ocean - Learning Adventures


	Have you ever seen (or not seen) an animal that blends into its environment? Thousands of underwater animals use camouflage to hide from or confuse their enemies. These 3 marine megastars are each masters of camouflage.

	Butterflyfish Will the real butterflyfish eye please stand up! This threadfin butterflyfish camouflages itself with a false eyespot on its fin and a thick black stripe over its eye. When a confused predator lunges at the spot on the butterflyfish's back fin, it's not nearly as painful (or fatal) as a stab to its real eye. That one false move gives the thin butterflyfish just enough time to dart into a narrow crack in the corals.

	Trumpetfish Ever wish you could disappear? Well, that's just what this trumpetfish is trying to do. When a trumpetfish feels threatened, it goes vertical, hoping to blend in with the surrounding corals. While it's hiding, it waits for food sources like small fish and shrimp to pass beneath it. Then it darts directly down on top of them, catching them by surprise and sucking them in with a strong current of water.

	Leafy Seadragon Is it a piece of seaweed? A yellow alien from outer space? Actually, it's a fish named the leafy seadragon. Leaf-like fins and frilly appendages make for perfect camouflage among seaweeds and seagrass beds. This seadragon sways back and forth like sea grass in the ocean current, making it nearly impossible to spot.

Pictures: Jeffrey Jeffords (4) |