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>> HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED
WHY SOME ANIMALS ARE BRIGHTLY-COLORED AND OTHERS
SEEM TO BLEND RIGHT IN WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS?
AN ANIMALS COLORATION IS A VERY SPECIALIZED ADAPTATION
FOR SURVIVAL.
BIRDS USE BRIGHT COLORS TO IDENTIFY EACH OTHER.
THE MALE PAINTED BUNTING CAN EASILY SPOT A COMPETITOR
AND DEFEND HIS TERRITORY.
HIS BRIGHT COLORS ALSO DISTRACT WOULD-BE PREDATORS,
SO THE DULL-COLORED FEMALE AND YOUNG GO UNNOTICED.
THE VENOMOUS CORAL SNAKE ALSO HAS BRIGHT COLORS.
IT'S SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE HARMLESS MILK SNAKE MIMICS
THESE COLORS TO FOOL PREDATORS.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU'LL SEE THAT RED AND YELLOW BANDS
ONLY TOUCH ON THE CORAL SNAKE.
SURVIVAL OF BOTH HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED DEPEND
ON GOOD COLORATION.
A GRAY-BROWN COYOTE CAN SECRETLY STALK ITS PREY
IN A MIX OF UNDERBRUSH AND LOW LIGHT.
THIS SWAMP RABBIT'S FUR BLENDS INTO THE COVER OF BRUSH,
VINES AND COASTAL MARSHES.
THE COLOR AND TEXTURE OF THE HORNED LIZARD CAMOUFLAGE IT
FROM PREDATORS AND HELP IT AMBUSH UNSUSPECTING PREY.
COLORATION CAN ALSO FOOL THE EYE.
IN DAPPLED FOREST LIGHT, THE DEER FAWN'S SPOTS BLUR
ITS OUTLINE, MAKING IT LESS RECOGNIZABLE TO PREDATORS.
WILDLIFE COLORATION IS A FASCINATING ADAPTATION OF
WARNING, ATTRACTION, OR DECEPTION!
THE NEXT TIME AN ANIMAL SHOWS YOU ITS COLORS, DECIDE,
IS IT SAYING, "SEE ME!"
OR "SEE YOU!"?
♪