Chemical Crypsis: Fish Use Camouflage From Diet To Avoid Predators

A species of small fish uses a homemade coral-scented cologne to hide from predators - the first evidence of chemical camouflage from diet in fish. Filefish evade predators by feeding on their home corals and then emitting a similar odor that makes them invisible to the noses of predators. Chemical camouflage from diet has been previously shown in insects, such as caterpillars, which mask themselves by building their exoskeletons with chemicals from their food. If animals don't need an exoskeleton to use chemical camouflage, more animals than previously thought could be using this survival tactic. read more

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