For Frogs, Bigger Brains Mean Worse Camouflage
For Frogs, Bigger Brains Mean Worse Camouflage
Frogs invest in cognitive capacity to avoid predators—up until there are too many hungry snakes around for the evolutionary strategy to pay off.
Frogs invest in cognitive capacity to avoid predators—up until there are too many hungry snakes around for the evolutionary strategy to pay off.
camouflage
Why Are Some Beetles Shiny? It’s Not What Researchers Thought
Connor Lynch | Mar 1, 2022 | 4 min read
The glossy shell of some beetles, it has long been speculated, helps hide the insects from predators. A recent paper put the hypothesis to the test—and found it wanting.
Hawaiian Spiders on Different Islands Evolved Same Disguise in Parallel
Catherine Offord | Mar 8, 2018 | 2 min read
In an unusual evolutionary twist, local stick spiders have come up with an almost identical repertoire of color morphs in multiple locations.
Image of the Day: Brand New Pyjamas
The Scientist | Aug 23, 2017 | 1 min read
As it matures, this chromatophore-clad pyjama squid (Sepioloidea lineolata) hatchling will learn to use the color-changing cells that adorn its body to alter its appearance.
Image of the Day: Not a Leaf
The Scientist | Jul 26, 2017 | 1 min read
With brown splotches artfully strewn against its bright yellow coloring, the striking imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) appears more leaf than Lepidoptera.
Behavior Brief
Amanda B. Keener | Jul 6, 2015 | 5 min read
A round-up of recent discoveries in behavior research
Light Sensors in Cephalopod Skin
Kerry Grens | May 21, 2015 | 1 min read
Squid, cuttlefish, and octopuses possess vision machinery in their skin.
Squid-Inspired Stickers
Jenny Rood | Mar 24, 2015 | 1 min read
Scientists develop tape coated with cephalopod proteins to reflect infrared light.
Behavior Brief
Jenny Rood | Feb 6, 2015 | 5 min read
A round-up of recent discoveries in behavior research
Butterfly Eyespots Deflect Predation
Bob Grant | Nov 12, 2014 | 2 min read
Researchers show that patterned coloration can be an effective means of distracting predators from vital body parts.
Squid-Inspired Electric Elastomer
Jyoti Madhusoodanan | Sep 17, 2014 | 1 min read
Polymer changes color and texture in response to remote signals.
Obscured Like an Octopus
Jyoti Madhusoodanan | Aug 20, 2014 | 2 min read
Cephalopod skin inspires engineers to design sheets of adaptive camouflage sensors.