Camouflage in the Jungle
In Camouflage in the Jungle, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the understory in Costa Rica where animals use camouflage and mimicry to avoid becoming prey. The glass frog avoids detection with its transparent body. The pattern on its back mimics the young egg sacs it is protecting, allowing it to confuse and fight off attacking wasps. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: How does camouflage help the animals to survive?
A: When the animals blend in with their environment, predators have a hard time finding them.
Q: How is mimicry important to the glass frog?
A: By looking like the young clump of eggs he is guarding, the frog confuses and fights off attacking wasps.
Q: Which eggs does the glass frog protect and why?
A: The glass frog protects the youngest and most vulnerable eggs. The older, more developed tadpoles can actually sense danger and escape into the river below.
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