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Cryptic coloration
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cryptic coloration is a type of camouflage that makes creatures difficult to spot against its background. Overall, it is a coloration that allows an organism to become less distinguishable from its background - a camouflage defense mechanism. Thus, the creature is less likely to be spotted and subsequently less vulnerable to predation. This also helps predators blend in with their enviorment.
One of the best examples is the Biston betularia, or peppered moth. The peppered moth came in many shades, from dark black to very white, with all variations coexisting in British forests. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, however, it seemed that the darker variance was more predominant than the lighter colored kin. This was mainly due to excess pollution from early factories, a condition that subsequently made the trees darker. Because of this, the darker version was less capable of being spotted by predators; thus, peppered moths with that adaptation were more capable of surviving.