Animals That Can Change Shape

28 Oct 2024

Credit: Pixabay

Octopuses are masters of shape-shifting, capable of altering their body shape and texture to mimic rocks, corals, or seaweed. The mimic octopus, in particular, can even mimic other marine animals, such as flounders and lionfish, to avoid predators.

Credit: Google

Octopus

Cuttlefish are related to octopuses and have sophisticated chromatophores (color-changing cells) that allow them to change color and pattern. They can also flatten their bodies to mimic their surroundings and avoid detection.

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Cuttlefish

This slimy creature has a unique ability to knot its body, allowing it to slip through tight spaces and escape predators. It can change its body shape by altering its size and flexibility depending on the environment.

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Hagfish

When threatened, the pufferfish can rapidly inflate its body by swallowing water (or air if it's out of the water), transforming into a nearly spherical shape covered with sharp spines, deterring predators.

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Pufferfish

Found in Madagascar, these geckos can flatten their bodies and spread out their limbs to mimic dead leaves, blending seamlessly into their surroundings to hide from predators.

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Leaf-Tailed Gecko

Known for its spiky appearance, this Australian lizard can alter its posture to appear larger and more intimidating to potential threats. Its spikes also make it difficult for predators to swallow.

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Thorny Devil Lizard

Flatfish undergo a remarkable transformation from birth, with one eye migrating to the other side of their body. As adults, they lie flat on the ocean floor and change color to blend in with the sand or rocks below.

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Flatfish

This beetle can change its color from gold to reddish-orange when threatened. Its outer shell can change its reflectiveness, helping it to blend with the surroundings or mimic a ladybug.

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Golden Tortoise Beetle

Sea cucumbers can alter their body shape to squeeze into small crevices, and when disturbed, they can expel their internal organs as a defense mechanism. They later regenerate these organs.

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Sea Cucumber

A type of sea slug, the black-spotted nudibranch can alter the shape and position of its body frills to blend with different textures of coral and sponges in its environment, aiding in camouflage.

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Black-Spotted Nudibranch