While some animals defend themselves with sharp claw and powerful bites, others prefer a subtler approach to self-preservation.

Animals all around the world in diverse environments use the visual technique of camouflage. Animals such as bobcats conceal themselves in tall grass; the white fur of the arctic fox renders it virtually invisible against a snow-covered backdrop. Chameleons, perhaps nature’s most famous masters of disguise, can change the color of their skin, in part to match their surroundings. (Find out what happens when chameleons look in a mirror.)

Many animals also use mimicry, a form of camouflage that entails acting like another object or organism. Few animals are more talented mimics than walking sticks, which have disguised