Animals That Change Color

by
Sophie Walker

Welcome to the wonderful world of nature! Have you ever wondered why some animals change their color? This is called “camouflage,” and it helps animals hide from danger or find their lunch. Today, we are going to meet an explorer named Maya. She is going on a journey to find the masters of disguise. Let’s join her and see what we can discover!

Maya’s first stop is the warm rainforest. Deep among the green leaves, she searches for a very special lizard. This is Leon the Chameleon. Right now, Leon is bright green. He blends in perfectly with the leaves so that birds cannot see him. Leon doesn’t just change color to hide; he also changes color based on his mood and the temperature!

Did you know that when Leon gets angry or wants to talk to another chameleon, he can change his skin to bright yellow or even red? Look! Leon has spotted a tasty cricket nearby. To show he is excited and ready to hunt, his skin is turning a fiery orange. His eyes can move in two different directions at the same time to help him find his prey.

Maya is amazed. She uses her magnifying glass to get a closer look at the trees. “It’s like magic!” she whispers. She learns that chameleons have special cells under their skin called chromatophores. These cells contain different colors of pigment. By expanding or shrinking these cells, the chameleon changes its appearance in just a few seconds.

Next, Maya travels to the deep, blue ocean. She puts on her scuba gear and dives under the waves. There, she meets Inkley the Octopus. Inkley is one of the smartest creatures in the sea. To stay safe from sharks, Inkley can change not only her color but also the texture of her skin! In this moment, Inkley is a smooth, pale pink.

Did you know an octopus can change its skin in less than one second? Inkley sees a big fish swimming nearby. Quickly, she moves toward a bumpy, brown rock. Suddenly, her skin becomes dark brown and covered in tiny bumps. She looks exactly like the rock! The big fish swims right past her, never knowing that Inkley is right there.

Maya watches from behind a coral reef. She is careful not to splash. She sees how Inkley uses her camouflage to hide and hunt. The ocean is full of color, but the best way to survive is to blend in. Maya writes in her waterproof notebook: “Octopuses are the ultimate hide-and-seek champions!”

Finally, Maya travels far to the north, where the air is cold and the wind howls. This is the Arctic. She is looking for Yuki the Arctic Fox. During the short summer months, the ground is covered in brown soil and green moss. To match the land, Yuki has a coat of short, brownish-gray fur. He looks like a little shadow running through the hills.

But when winter arrives, everything changes. The ground is covered in thick, white snow. Did you know that Yuki grows a whole new coat of fur? His brown summer fur falls out, and thick, heavy white fur grows in its place. This keeps him warm in the freezing cold and makes him almost invisible against the snowy landscape.

Maya wears her warmest coat and follows Yuki’s tracks in the snow. She sees him jump high into the air and dive headfirst into a snowbank to catch a snack! Yuki’s white fur is so bright it glows in the winter sun. “You look so different than you did in the summer, Yuki!” Maya laughs.

Maya returns home after her long trip. she looks at her photos of Leon, Inkley, and Yuki. She learned that changing color is a vital tool for survival. Whether it is a chameleon in the forest, an octopus in the sea, or a fox in the snow, nature has many ways to hide its friends.

Did you know that there are many other animals that change color? Some frogs, spiders, and even some birds do it too! Nature is full of surprises if you look closely enough. The next time you are outside, keep your eyes open. You might just find a master of disguise hiding right in front of you!