Academic English for International Exams

1. Main topic: There are two types of camouflage that help animals hide from predators.
2. Key point 1: Animals camouflage themselves by changing to look like the environment.
3. Example: The Arctic fox's coat changes to white to match the snow in winter.
4. Key point 2: Animals disguise themselves to look like other things.
5. Example: The walking stick looks like an ordinary twig.

M: Over the course of evolution, animal species develop special adaptations that help them live in places that might not be very conducive to their survival. One common adaptation is camouflage, which allows animals to blend in to their environment so that they can hide from both predators and prey. There are two important kinds of camouflage that animals use.

One way animals blend into their environment is by changing color when the environment changes. This is known as cryptic coloration – changing color to match the environment. The seasons, for example, drastically alter the appearance of an animal's habitat. In spring and summer, the ground may be full of greens and browns, while in fall and winter, everything may be covered in snow. Now, a brown or gray fox may be able to hide well in a summer setting, but come winter, he'll stand out against the white snow like a wine stain on a wedding dress. Which is why the Arctic fox turns white. Many mammals and birds change the color of their fur or feathers in accordance with the seasons.

Another way that animals camouflage themselves is through disguise. In essence, animals look like other objects that predators won't pay attention to. An interesting example of this kind of camouflage is the walking stick. The walking stick is an insect whose body looks almost identical to an ordinary twig. A predator may see the walking stick, but chances are it will think it's only a stick and not food. And so it will ignore it. Other insect species have evolved to look like tree leaves, or stranger yet, the eyes of a much larger animal.