These 20 animals are real chameleons

Whether it's people and objects (as here) or animals, camouflage is an art that isn't within everyone's reach - but sometimes results from a chance pause. From the orchid mantis, an insect native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia that mimics the flower that gives it its name, to Crotalus mitchellii, a dangerous viper from the Southwest of the United States, the same color as the rocky ground, here are 15 more or less well-known animals that have become masters in the art of blending into their environment.

#1 Orchid Mantis

#2 Leopard

#3Indian Screech-Owl

#4 Alligator

#5 Snow Leopard

#6 Great Gray Owl

#7 Another leopard

#8Leaf fish

#9Rhampholeon

#10Magellanic Conure

Camouflage of the Emerald Leaf Parrots making them nearly invisible to predators such as hawks pic.twitter.com/eOjrPeA2SL

— Nature is Amazing (@AMAZlNGNATURE) January 23, 2025

#11 The Dolophones (spider) enroulante)

#12 The orthoptère

#13 The Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)

#14Grand Ibijau

#15 Crotalus mitchellii

#16 A common octopus

#17 LeKallima inachus

One of most incredible examples of animal camouflage I've seen: the dead leaf butterfly of Tropical Asia. When a bird or other predator gets too close, the dead leaf closes its wings, rendering itself virtually invisible to the would-be killer. https://t.co/i0WXA8vkD4 pic.twitter.com/c4OF4eSMca

— Steve Stewart-Williams (@SteveStuWill) August 14, 2020

#18 LePegusa

#19Lionfish or lionfish

#20The Night-Eyed Octopus or Caribbean Reef Octopus

And for a cute twist, we'll let you have fun discovering where the expert camouflage cats are hiding in these photos!