Aquatic prey use countershading camouflage to match the visual background

Jennifer L Kelley, Ian Taylor, Nathan S Hart and Julian C Partridge

Behavioral Ecology, 2017, vol. 28, issue 5, 1314-1322

Abstract: Lay SummaryAnimals often have darker coloration on their top surface than on their underside (“countershading”). In terrestrial prey, this patterning eliminates the body’s shadows to facilitate camouflage. In a freshwater fish that can change color, countershading provides optimal camouflage for different visual backgrounds and viewing angles rather than to reduce shadowing. Countershading camouflage may operate differently in terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Keywords: animal coloration; camouflage; color change; countershading; crypsis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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