Colors for survival: Mimicry and camouflage in nature

by Marco Ferrari

If you have ever wondered how such a colossal variety of animal life has managed to survive in a world full of predators, rest assured these creatures are often given a leg up on the evolutionary ladder by nature herself. Filled with astonishing photographs, this book shows how many insects, birds, fish, and mammals dip into Nature's own palette, using color to create tricks of the eye for protection and disguise: A Brazilian grasshopper sits undetected on a blade of long green grass; a bottom-dwelling flatfish literally becomes one with the ocean floor; and the Alpine hare and Arctic fox disappear into the snow of their environs. We also see how animals warn enemies through the use of four-alarm neon hues or strut their sexual "stuff" with dazzling displays of color designed to attract a mate. Accompanied by a spectacular array of full-color photos, this entertaining book reveals nature's grab bag of tricks, brilliantly designed to insure the survival of the species. 10 1/4" x 14".

144 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1997

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Reviews

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photos are amazing.

Found this in the "slightly nicer" room at a Friends of the Library book sale -- well worth the $5 price tag.