Cryptic vs Warning Colours

What is Adaptive Colouration?

Adaptive colouration is a survival strategy used by plants and animals to help them obtain food, escape predators, and conserve water. This involves using colours and patterns to either blend in with their surroundings or stand out to warn predators.

Cryptic Colouration

Cryptic colouration, also known as camouflage, helps organisms blend into their environment, making them less visible to predators or prey.

• Purpose: To avoid detection by predators or to sneak up on prey.
• Examples:
  • A chameleon changing its skin colour to match its surroundings.
  • A stick insect resembling twigs or branches.

Warning Colouration

Warning colouration, also known as aposematism, involves bright and conspicuous colours that signal danger or a bad taste to potential predators.

• Purpose: To warn predators of toxicity or unpalatability, thus avoiding attacks.
• Examples:
  • The bright colours of poison dart frogs.
  • The black and yellow stripes of bees and wasps.

Comparison Table

Feature	Cryptic Colouration	Warning Colouration
Purpose	Blend in with environment	Stand out to warn predators
Visibility	Low visibility	High visibility
Examples	Chameleons, stick insects	Poison dart frogs, bees