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The Gray’s leaf insect hails from Sumatra and the southern part of Malay Peninsula. Their specific epithet bioculatum means “2-eyed” in Latin and refers to the 2 dots located on the abdomen in these insects. These critters face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of deforestation; […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The blenny can be found in oceans all over the world. These critters also come in many sizes and modifications. But 1 thing is for sure, they all have quite the personality. Blennies face a variety of threats from habitat destruction at the hands of the tourism industry, residential and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The decorator crab takes camouflage to a whole new level. There are 700 known species of these camo experts. They can be found in oceans all over the world and even in fresh water. These crabs prefer coral reefs and kelp forests. None of the decorator crab species are currently […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The giant walking stick is not a rod used for hiking rough terrain. Nope. These are the longest known insects in the world. A member of the Phasmatodea family, aka Phasmids, these critters are masters of camouflage. They blend right in and look like, well, sticks. Until they actually move. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Loved and revered the world over, the seahorse can be found in tropical and temperate salt water environments the world over. Sans the poles. They, of course, aren’t horses or even related to them. They are indeed fish. These incredible and unique fish prefer sheltered areas like estuaries, seagrass beds, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

While not as tiny as a Thai bobtail squid, the striped pyjama squid is certainly down there in size. However, they can pack a secret surprise. Pyjama squids are among the few known venomous and poisonous squid species. And a side note, they’re actually a species of cuttlefish, not squid. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Hailing from the Indo-Pacific region, the mimic octopus brings new meaning to blending in. Their name is derived, in part, from the Greek word thaûma, meaning “marvel” or “miracle”. They prefer warm, muddy waters like those found in river mouths and estuaries. Even though they are subject to habitat destruction […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Cuttlefish are closely related to squids and octopuses. They are in the cephalopod family. Cephalopod means “head-foot”. There are 120 known species of cuttlefish. These cephalopods are very intelligent and have 1 of the biggest brain to body ratios of all known invertebrates. A testament to their intellect is that […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

They may look like a clump of moss and nothing more, but that’s exactly what the Vietnamese mossy frog is going for here. All that camouflage helps keep these frogs safe from predators looking for a quick meal. Their skin is bumpy, green, blotched with dark spots, tubercules, and spines. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Blending in so perfectly that they look just like a tree stump we have the potoo. The potoo is an carnivorous (eats meat) bird from Central and South America. Unlike many birds in the rainforests, potoos use camouflage rather than flashy colors. Being nocturnal (active at night), they sit motionless […]

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