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How does a stripy tree snail hide from hungry birds? The Hypselostyla camelopardalis from the Philippines and Reinia variegata from Japan have both evolved a form of dynamic camouflage to survive. Their light-colored patterns vanish in the rain and the shell turns dark brown, similar to damp tree bark. Researchers from the University Museum at the University of Tokyo have uncovered the mechanism behind this rare molluscan transformation. The outmost layer of the snails’ shell is porous like a sponge. When water fills the holes, it changes how light bounces off, making a second darker layer of shell beneath more visible. This has potential applications for smart sensors and materials that react to humidity, without the need for external power.
A leopard can’t change its spots, but some snails can change their stripes! Now we know how, thanks to new research at the University of Tokyo.
Dynamic camouflage is when an animal can change its color, pattern or texture to blend in with its surroundings. Perhaps the best-known examples are from cuttlefish, octopuses and squid, whose dramatic transformations to mimic sand, rocks or coral make for an impressive show, if you can spot them.
