The history, theory and evidence for a cryptic function of countershading

摘要: It has been evolved alike in many unrelated groups of animals by the hunter and hunted; sea on land. tones canvas which are painted Leopard's spots, Tiger's stripes, patterns smaller Carnivora such as Serval Ocelot, Civet, Genet, Jackal Hyaena. is dress almost universally worn rodents, including Vizcacha, Jerboas, Gerbils, Cavies, Agouties, Hares, other. essential uniform adopted Conies, Asses, Antelopes, Deer, other ungulates. repeated extensively among marsupials, seen coloration Tasmanian wolf, Opossums, Wallabies others. forms background to reveal beautiful subtle picture Wheatears, Warblers, Pipits, Woodcock, Bustards, innumerable birds. provides a basic livery for great majority snakes, lizards, amphibians. Among insects it reaches fine state perfection different caterpillars grasshoppers. Hugh Cott (1940) In 1896 American artist naturalist Abbott Handerson Thayer published an article The Auk entitled ‘The law underlies protective ’ . this he observed that ‘animals nature darkest those parts tend be most lighted sky's light, vice versa’. As example, described plumage ruffed grouse, whose feathers dark brown back blend gradually into white underneath. Such gradation shading, hypothesised, made three-dimensional bodies appear less round solid balancing neutralising effects illumination sun. called type patterning obliterative today we term countershading.