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Camouflage or cryptic coloration is a way of making a visible organism invisible. Wikipedia mentions that “camouflage allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain indiscernible from the surrounding environment”.
There are many insects and reptiles that exhibit camouflage most notably the chameleons and the stick insect. These are the finest examples of this phenomenon in action. But recently I had the opportunity of observing another insect showing remarkable levels of cryptic coloration. Here I am including some photographs.
This are the photos of a butterfly. Most people don’t believe it when I show them these photos. The first question always is about the head. Infact the head is so well concealed that it is almost impossible to distinguish. The manner in which the butterfly has imitated the dry leaf is simply stunning. If you look closely then you can also observe that the two wings are not similar to each other, instead they represent the two sides of the leaf, the upper photo showing the top part and the next photo showing the bottom part. This kind of camouflage is almost unheard of.

Why do the butterflies exhibit this kind of stuff? The answer is to protect themselves from the predators. Cryptic coloration is one of the several defense mechanisms which the butterflies use. Other defense mechanisms include the use of chemicals and behavioral defenses. For more information I would recommend the Wikipedia page.

The diversity in nature never fails to amaze me. Every time I watch Discovery Channel or NGC or Animal Planet I wonder what more this world has to offer. Our rampant use of natural resources and the relentless pressure on Mother Earth has wrecked havoc on this Planet. We need to conserve this amazing place of ours for the next generation. Let us save the Earth.