Adaptive Value
Adaptive Value
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In this context, camouflaging behaviors are defensive strategies; in fact, it's been found that predation is a leading factor in this evolutionary adaptation (Josef et al., 2012).
Purpose
To Answer Tinbergen's question: Why does the animal perform the behavior?
Watch the video below to see an octopus camouflaging himself so well that he scares a marine biologist!
(Discover Magazine, 2013)
The octopus in that video successfully protected itself from a potential predator (the marine biologist) by blending in to its environment. Once the biologist got too close for comfort, the octopus thought it had been seen, so it resorted to making itself seen and inking in the direction of the biologist (predator). Other antipredator behaviors the octopus displays in this video include inking and jet propulsion.
Provided Advantage
The ability to camouflage offers a significant adaptive advantage for octopuses. By rapidly changing their skin color and texture to match their surroundings, they can effectively blend in with the environment, reducing the risk of predation (Hanlon & Messenger, 1999). This cryptic coloration proves particularly valuable considering the octopus's lack of hard shells or spines for direct defense (Reed College, 2007). The high density of pigment cells (chromatophores) in their skin allows for exceptional color control, enabling them to mimic various patterns and textures, further enhancing their ability to remain undetected by predators (Reed College, 2007). This remarkable camouflage ability serves as a key evolutionary adaptation that has undoubtedly contributed to the octopus's success in the marine environment.
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