(above) In the case of this leopard
gecko from Pakistan, only the upper body imitates the substratum
upon which it might be detected. The abdomen is almost entirely
white, because the small reptile is always careful not to reveal
that particular part of its body29. |
Camouflage techniques of reptiles
What does a reptile do to protect itself against its predators in the
wild? One of the easiest ways for these slow-moving creatures is definitely
to conceal themselves. The bestmethod of hiding is adaptation ofthe creature's
body to its habitat. Colours and patterns usually serve as a lifesaver
for many animals. For example, in the forest it is almost impossible to
distinguish a Rhino Viper, a kind of tropical snake living in the rainforests
of Africa, due to its skin being covered with blue, red, yellow, black
and white geometric patterns. Interestingly, the colours of the snake
match the surroundings in which it lives. This one-to-one relationship
evokes some questions in the mind. How did these colours, which harmonise
with the environment so well, emerge? Is it possible for this to have
happened by chance, or to have been produced by the reptile itself?
Certainly, it is not possible at all. It is impossible for a reptile
first to analyse its environment, then to decide what kind of changes
it needs to make in itself, and finally to determine a colour and pattern.
Furthermore, it is totally illogical and unreasonable to claim that it
might have set up a system in its body to carry out the chemical reactions
that are necessary for such a change.
Even man, the only living being endowed with reason on earth, cannot
change the colour of any part of his body. He cannot establish a system
in his body to bring about such a change. In this case, there is only
one explanation for the perfect resemblance of the colour of the reptile
to the colour of its surroundings to such an extent that even the shades
do not differ. An infinitely superior possessor of wisdom has designed
this living creature. This design belongs to Allah, the Almighty. Allah
is He Who knows best the needs of every living being.
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| It is almost impossible to distinguish
the snake species that inhabits the tropical rainforests of Costa
Rica from the tree on which it rests. |
The Australian leaf gecko usually lives
near trees, and closely resembles bark. It rarely displays its pale
abdomen. Even the lizard'seyes are well camouflaged. |
The Most Famous Camouflaging Reptile: the Chameleon
Have you ever seen a chameleon changing its colour according to its surroundings?
This is indeed something worth seeing. The chameleon has such an exceptional
ability to camouflage itself that its deftness astonishes everyone. Although
many other reptile species have the ability to change their colours, none
of them is capable of doing it as rapidly as chameleons.
The chameleon uses red and yellow colour carriers, blue
and white reflector layers and most importantly "chromatophores", skin
cells that respond to variations in heat, light and the animal's mood.30
If you put a chameleon in a very yellow setting, for example, you would
see that the colour of its body instantly turns yellow and adapts to its
surroundings. What's more, chameleons adapt not only to a single colour,
but also to multicoloured substrata. The secret of their achievement is
the colour cells, lying under the skin of this master of camouflage, which
magnify and swiftly change place to adapt to the environment. Could a
chameleon make such a perfect adaptation on its own? How do these creatures
indistinguishably blend in with the environments in which they live, while
even the most skilful artist has to work for hours to obtain the equivalent
of a single natural colour?
It would surely be unreasonable to claim that a chameleon could perform
such an act of its own volition. It is certainly not possible for a reptile
to determine the appearance of its body, nor to place a system in its
body to change its appearance. It would be just as nonsensical to claim
that this creature has control over all the cells and atoms in its body,
that it is capable of making whatever change it wishes on them and produce
the required pigments. It is totally inconsistent and meaningless to claim
that such an exceptional ability has come into being by chance. No mechanism
in nature has the power of producing such perfect skill and granting it
to the being that needs it. Just as all other living beings on earth,
Allah also created chameleons. Allah demonstrates to us the uniqueness
of His artistry in creation with these examples. Allah is the Almighty,
the All-Wise.
Everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies
Allah. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. The kingdom of the heavens and
the earth belongs to Him. He gives life and causes to die. He has power
over all things. (Surat al-Hadid: 1-2)
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| Chameleons are one of the best self-camouflaging
animals. As seen in the photographs above, the cool shadow of a fern
leaves a temporary imprint on the warm skin of the chameleon. |
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These snow grouse
are examples of how camouflage can change according to season. |
Colour Change According to the Environment
Do living creatures only make use of colour to protect themselves against
their enemies? Definitely not. Some animals protect themselves also from
cold and heat by means of enzymes giving colour to the hairs covering
their bodies. In animals that live in cold regions, the hairs covering
the tip of the legs, ear and nose, which are the most sensitive parts
of the body, are dark coloured. Dark coloured hairs provide more heat
energy for animals thus helping them to warm easier, just like humans
who try to benefit from the sun better by wearing dark coloured clothes
in winter. Colour change is very common in land animals. For example,
in summer, the fur of the northern fox turns white, because their body
temperature is high. In winters, however, as it becomes colder, their
body temperature drops and a more suitable environment for the enzymes
to work easily is provided. For this reason, in winters, the fur of the
northern fox darkens. Rabbits, foxes, weasels, and polecats living in
northern latitudes turn brown in summer and white in winter.
While some birds become completely white in winter months, they take
on a new appearance in spring matching the colour of the ground and vegetation.
Warning Colours
Living creatures make use of colour for varied purposes. Using it as
a mean of warning is one of these purposes. In the following pages, we
will give some examples of this.
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One
of the most threatening frogs is the "poison arrow" frog. This small
amphibian of the Dendrobates species has a poison known as "batracotoxin"
within its skin, which is believed by some to be the strongest known
poison in the animal kingdom. The frog's name is derived from the
use made of it by certain Amazonian tribes. It is so poisonous that
the Indians used it on the tip of their arrows while hunting.32
The colour of the animal helps other animals to recognise that it
is poisonous. |
The
members of the Sinanceidea species are fish with relatively small
and compact bodies. They have no scales, and instead their skins
are covered with wart-like protuberances, which perfectly camouflage
the fish as they rest upon the seabed waiting for prey. These protuberances
break up the outline of the body, which thus come to resemble rocks.
Often these fish camouflage themselves even more by burrowing into
the sand.33 |
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In South America, there are
many poisonous and non-poisonous snakes that share the same vivid
coloration. They are all covered with yellow, red, and black rings.
They are all called coral snakes. Some of them, the true coral snakes,
are deadly. Others, which are called "false corals", only imitate
the poisonous ones. The actual arrangement of the coloured bands distinguishes
one from the other. The false coral snakes benefit from this similarity
and are protected from their enemies.34 |
| A
papilionida extends its red, antenna-like osmeterium, an organ that
some butterfly caterpillars release when they hear the enemy approaching.
The movement of this brightly coloured extension frightens small birds.35 |
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| The fulgoridae are a species of often brightly coloured
large homoptera that live in the tropics. Their heads extend out in
the form of a hollow "horn". The species of fulgoridae has a horn-like
growth on its head that imitates the open mouth (complete with teeth)
of a crocodile. (Big picture) It is believed that the function of
these horn-like extensions may also relate to courtship. The camouflage
of the fulgoridae in repose as seen in the smaller picture resembles
the bark of a tree. When disturbed, it opens its wings to reveal two
large "eyes". This surprises its enemies and gives the animal the
chance to run away.36 |
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A male frigate-bird in the Galapagos Islands inflates the scarlet
pouch beneath its bill to attract a female. The males often gather
in groups upon the mangrove, where they will later build their nests,
and engage in this behaviour so that the females flying overhead can
choose their partners. The scarlet colour of the pouch contrasts sharply
with the black feathers on the upper part of the bird's body, which
have a metallic sheen.38 |
29. Marco Ferrari, Colors
for Survival, Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 1992, p.86-87
30. International Wildlife, September-October
1992, p.34
31. Jill Bailey, Mimicry and Camouflage, BLA Publishing
Ltd., England, 1988, p.18
32. Marco Ferrari, Colors for Survival, Barnes and Noble
Books, New York, 1992, p.109
33. Marco Ferrari, Colors for Survival, Barnes and Noble
Books, New York, 1992, p.64
34. Marco Ferrari, Colors for Survival, Barnes and Noble
Books, New York, 1992, p.130
35. Marco Ferrari, Colors for Survival, Barnes and Noble
Books, New York, 1992, p.129
36. Marco Ferrari, Colors for Survival, Barnes and Noble
Books, New York, 1992, p.126
37. David Attenborough, The Trials of Life, Princeton
University Press, New Jersey p.235
38. Marco Ferrari, Colors
for Survival, Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 1992, p.109
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