Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Disruptive coloration
open-in-new
<p>Disruptive coloration (also known as disruptive camouflage or disruptive patterning) is a form of <a href="/facts/Camouflage/GSjGqPuR">camouflage</a> that works by breaking up the outlines of an animal, soldier or <a href="/facts/Military_camouflage/93IgXGIa">military</a> hardware with a strongly contrasting pattern. It is often combined with other methods of <a href="/facts/Crypsis/f1fBxAsy">crypsis</a> including background colour matching and <a href="/facts/Countershading/oEWFkYsE">countershading</a>; special cases are <a href="/facts/Coincident_disruptive_coloration/L1oHnR1b">coincident disruptive coloration</a> and the <a href="/facts/Disruptive_eye_mask/JHMIHDXu">disruptive eye mask</a> seen in some fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. It appears paradoxical as a way of not being seen, since disruption of outlines depends on high contrast, so the patches of colour are themselves conspicuous. </p><p>The importance of high-contrast patterns for successful disruption was predicted in general terms by the artist <a href="/facts/Abbott_Thayer/cfSFUDVd">Abbott Thayer</a> in 1909 and explicitly by the <a href="/facts/Zoologist/6Kj13mBt">zoologist</a> <a href="/facts/Hugh_Cott/3mm3Ptcp">Hugh Cott</a> in 1940. Later experimental research has started to confirm these predictions. Disruptive patterns work best when all their components match the background. </p><p>While background matching works best for a single background, disruptive coloration is a more effective strategy when an animal or a military vehicle may have a variety of backgrounds. </p><p>Conversely, poisonous or distasteful animals that advertise their presence with warning coloration (<a href="/facts/Aposematism/Npct7Xz1">aposematism</a>) use patterns that emphasize rather than disrupt their outlines. For example, <a href="/facts/Skunks/osXdXYA7">skunks</a>, <a href="/facts/Salamanders/5pKurkwV">salamanders</a> and <a href="/facts/Monarch_butterfly/Uwfk2Aff">monarch butterflies</a> all have high-contrast patterns that display their outlines. </p>