The color and/or pattern of an animal often allows it to either blend in or stand out from its environment. This helps them escape predators or hunt more efficiently by being harder to see.

When it blends into its background it is called camouflage.

For example, many animals that live in snowy areas are white, like the polar bear. Many animals that live in deserts are sand-coloured, many animals that live in trees are green, many animals that live on rocks match the coloration of the rocks and many animals that live near the soil are soil-coloured. Patterns, like stripes or spots, can also help camouflage an animal.

A chameleon can even change its colour to blend in with its environment.

Animals that stand out are often colored very brightly, this is because in the animal world a bright color means danger or poison.

Take a look at some animal photos, which animals are camouflaged and which stand out from their surroundings.

Make a cardboard cutout of an animal and color it with markings so that it camouflages into the color of your room.