From all the amazing things animals are capable of doing, today I’ll tell you about animals that can completely change their appearance.
Some animals whether on land or in the ocean, are capable of naturally changing their color for many reasons. To find out why and how keep on reading and discover 14 incredible animals with stunning ‘superpowers’.
1. Chameleon
Let’s start with the animal all of you probably already know is capable of changing its color. Chameleons are a classic when it comes to color changing, but many believe that they do it to blend in with their surroundings.
However, that’s rarely the case. Chameleons changes their color for various other reasons. Sometimes they change their appearance to express a certain mood, to regulate their body temperature, and even to attract a mate!
2. Flounder
The Flounder fish is a master when it comes to hiding. In addition to having flat bodies which helps them hide from ocean predators, these fish can also change their color.
They can change their color to the sandy ocean floor or rocky terrain in seconds, depending on their hiding spot.
3. Seahorse
These adorable creatures can change their color in a matter of seconds to help them hide from lurking predators. Seahorses have tiny organs that contain pigments, helping them in this incredible act of defense.
Interestingly, Seahorse’s nervous system is also capable of growing out new skin filaments in order to better blend in with their surroundings. Is it a coral or a seahorse, we’ll never know!
4. Crab Spider
Unlike Seahorses and Chameleons who can change their color in seconds, for Crab Spiders it’s a long and exhausting process.
But why do crab spiders even have to change their color? So they can catch their prey more easily! Crab spiders usually hide inside flowers and depending on the color of the flower, they change their appearance.
However, as I already mentioned this process lasts a bit longer for Crab Spiders. If they find themselves on a yellow flower it can take them from 5 to 25 days to turn yellow!
5. Octopus
Were you able to find the Octopus in the picture? It’s quite a tricky task, I admit! Just like Seahorses, Octopuses have tiny organs filled with pigments which help them change their color in a matter of seconds.
This helps them mimic the ocean floor and coral reefs, all in the hope the predators don’t find them!
6. Pacific Tree Frog
This little amphibian mostly changes its body color to help it stay safe and avoid predators like snakes and birds.
However, they also change their color depending on the season. In the summer the Pacific Tree Frog will be bright green, but once the plants perish away this bright color will turn into a dull brown.
7. Anole
If you live in the southeastern part of the United States, the Anole lizard crossed your path at one point.
Usually bright green in color, this little lizard can quickly change its color to brown once they feel cold or even stressed.
8. Ptarmigan
The Ptarmigan is a bird found in the Arctic and subarctic regions. During winter they’re covered in gorgeous white feathers, but once the snow melts, the Ptarmigan bird molts.
They grow brown feathers to better match the rocky surroundings so they don’t stand out with their white plumage.
9. Ribbon Eel
This stunning Eel changes its color for a completely different reason than we covered so far. Juvenile Ribbon Eels are usually dark in color with a single bright yellow stripe that goes down their back.
As they grow, male Ribbon Eels become blue with a yellow stripe, while females turn completely yellow.
10. Mantis Shrimp
This colorful little shrimp is one of the most impressive ocean creatures ever. They change color for two reasons. The first reason is to hide from predators and the second one is to hunt down prey.
Depending if they live all the way down in the deep sea or maybe in depths where the sun can still reach, they can be darker or lighter in color.
11. Golden Tortoise Beetle
When happy and content the Golden Tortoise Beetle is best recognizable by its mesmerizing golden-like color. However, if something happens to scare this adorable creature it quickly changes its color from golden to orange with black spots.
How bright the orange will be depends on how hydrated the beetle is. The more water in the outer exoskeleton, the brighter the orange.
Once the Golden Tortoise Beetle feels safe again, she turns her color back into golden. Amazing, right?
12. Arctic Fox
The Arctic Fox is best known for its fluffy white fur. But did you know that in summer Arctic foxes completely change their appearance?
Not wanting to be exposed once the snow melts away, these little creatures lose all their white thick fur, and change it for a brown less thick fluff.
13. Arctic Hare
Just like the Arctic Fox, the Hare also changes its fur color. Partly because the white fur is way too thick for the short subarctic summer and partly because they don’t want to stand out in their surroundings.
14. Mosquitofish
This little fish got its name because it eats Mosquito larvae! They’re not drastic when it comes to color change, but they do so to hide away from larger fish who prey on them.
If their surroundings are darker their scales also become darker. However, once they swim up closer to where sunshine can reach their scales immediately turn lighter in color.