Chapter 2: Appearances are Everything

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 2 regarding the various forms of camouflage and coloration in marine organisms.

Countershading

A form of camouflage where an organism has a dark ventral surface and a lighter belly, enabling it to blend in with the water column.

Open Water Fish 

Rarely colorful; have silvery sides which blends into open water environment; Can serve as distraction or startle mechanism when swimming in large schools to avoid predation

Transparency

A form of camouflage where organisms are nearly invisible in open water, common in larval stages and various invertebrates.

Cryptic coloration

Body color, texture, and shape that blend into environments, aiding in hiding from predators or ambushing prey.

Aposematic coloration

Bright warning colors or patterns displayed by poisonous or toxic species to signal danger to potential predators.

Müllerian mimicry

When different toxic species display similar color patterns to reinforce the warning message to predators.

Batesian mimicry

A non-toxic species mimics the coloration of a toxic species to benefit from the latter's warning signals.

Aggressive mimicry

A predation tactic where a predator mimics a harmless entity to lure and capture prey.

Disruptive coloration

Strong visual patterns that break up the silhouette of an organism, making it less distinguishable to predators.

False eyespots

Dark coloration that resembles eyes located on non-vital body parts to distract predators from the real eyes.

Dynamic camouflage

The ability of certain organisms, like the mimic octopus, to change color and patterns to blend into their environment or mimic other species.

Ink:

Cephalopids like squid and octopus can use ink produced in internal ink sac to hide from predators or confuse them