Cover Image: Camouflage

Camouflage

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Member Reviews

First of all, i want to say thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this exciting book!. Even bigger thanks to the author for writing this book and for keeping me enticed and excited the entire time with one amazing facts about the highlighted animals after another!. I am so glad that i picked up this book!.

Besides the stunning photographs of the animals, one of the points that i liked about this book is its interesting,concised and informative opening or introduction about what is camouflage?,the various types of camouflage,the common forms of camouflage and the purpose of camouflage. This part here has widen my knowledge about camouflage as before this, i was only familiar with two forms/types of camouflage that are mimicry/Batesian's mimicry and of blending in or hiding into the background/environment.

Now through this book,i know that camouflage also works in many fascinating kinds of ways; some animals use olfaction (smell) as their main sense, some use their hearings or detecting movements and vibrations and some have unique defense mechanisms to avoid detection by their predators such as some moths that have hairy bodies and wing surfaces that disrupt the ultrasonic clicks used by bats to detect preys.

There are also some animals who are using smells to foil their predators such as the harlequin filefish who emits odours gained from their surroundings or their foods so they cannot be sniffed out by predators. Then, some uses countershading where their upper sides of the body is darker and their underneath body part is lighter whereby this unique qualities helps to reduce the effect of sunlight from above lightening upper surfaces and shadows darkening the underside. While some uses a combination of various forms of camouflage such as the Orcas/the Killer Whales who are using both disruptive coloration/patterning and countershading (by having two contrasting colours of black and white that disrupts or breaks up the creature's recognizable outline for shadowy effects so that they will be less visible underwater). Overall, each animals have their own unique ways of camouflage.

However, the ones that i find to be most outstanding and fascinating have got to be from the insects and the oceans animals. For example, the cuttlefish has been dubbed as the 'Master Of Disguise' for their unique ability of drastically changing their appearance within seconds using clusters of microscopic cells/bag like sacs called Chromatophores.

Another points that i liked about this book is that the author also listed the IUCN conservation status of each featured animals and explains a little on how do they fall into such lets say endangered or threaten status. However,there are some animals that fall under the critical categories (critically endangered, endangered,threatened,near threaten,vulnerable) without an explanation on how they fall into those categories, which i wish the author would give some explanations on that rather than leaving them hanging like that because i am really interested to know. Nonetheless, this part here shows that the intention of this book is not only to educate but also to raise awareness on how our reckless actions are disrupting nature's ecosystem and destroying wildlifes habitat and populations.

I also loved how each animals are systematically organized into their habitat's geographic regions and distribution maps are also provided that shows their homes/where they can be found, along with some additional information about them such as common names,scientific names, habitat, diets,etc. It would be useful if a glossary is provided to explains some of the unfamiliar scientific/zoological terms used in this book. But still,the author did a good job by making things easier for us the laymen by explaining some of the technical/unfamiliar zoological terms used in this book.

Overall, this book is both educational as well as eye-opening and important in helping us to understand the importance of camouflage as not only as a defense mechanism, but also to ensure the survival of the species and each species have their own significant roles in the environment and their survivals contribute to the biodiversity of nature.

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This book was brilliant.  I just loved learning about this animal and why they have these wonderful camouflage patterns.  The pictures were brilliant and in some it was so hard to spot the animals, as they blended in so well and it was so much fun. It was like trying to find wally lol. I have to say I learnt so much from reading this book.  It was very obvious that this book was so well researched and the author wrote so well making everything so interesting. I loved the layout of the book and the fact everything was set out by region made it flow seamlessly.  For each animal there was a picture of it well camouflaged and another either moving or close up so you could see it in all its glorious detail. I truly loved every minute of this book. I really do recommend this book from young adult to adult. It would also make a brilliant family book as younger members of the family could have so much fun trying to find the animals in the picture and learning there names.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishing team for creating such a magnificent portray of animals in their true habits for everyone to learn from and thoroughly enjoy.

The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/camouflage-by-steve-parker-quarto-publishing-5-stars

Under the name ladyreading365

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This is a fascinating coffee table book for those who love design and animals. This book has gorgeous pictures accompanied by insight from zoological experts. It was a truly beautiful and fascinating read.

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Many is the nature book these days reporting something along the lines of 'now you see it, now you don't' – meaning the species is under threat. This one is different, for the simple reason it contains critters that use camouflage and optical trickery to become and stay as invisible as possible – or if in plain sight, as unappetising as could be. Here then is a round-the-world survey of dead leaves that are actually insects or lizards, splodges of colour that are actually moths or spiders, and, er, the completely invisible Komodo dragon. This is a well-done volume, with great near-full-page illustrations every time, every critter's Latin (and local) names, its spread, endangerment levels, etc, and a page concerned with its colouration, habits and its ways and means of camouflage, out of all the various reasons for it and techniques of doing it. But I do wonder what purpose the book really serves – if scientists want a book on the topic, this is fine, but it seems very lay-friendly and not comprehensive. And how many casual readers or school shelves would really need a highly pictorial guide to hard-to-see animals, however classy this example may be? If I knew who would leap for such a thing I would heartily recommend it, but at the moment to me the target audience seems as elusive as a mango baron caterpillar. Or a Stan Ridgway fan.

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Beautiful photographs and descriptive information combine for a very interesting book about how animals blend into their environment. This book feathers 100 animals and more than 100 full-color pictures showcasing them in their natural environment. The photograph takes up one page while the other half of the page provides information on the animal including how their camouflage works, distribution map, common name, scientific name, size, habitat, diet, and conservation status. This book includes land animals, fish, and insects from all over the globe. The book is divided into sections by contents which creates a nice flow between all the animals. Most of the animals I was aware of, but many of the insects and fish I had never heard of. The pictures are absolutely stunning and there were a few where it took me a moment to find the animal even when they were dead center in the image. This book would make a great gift to any nature lover.

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This book is truly amazing. The photography is stunning, I love that you have to look for the animals in some of the pictures because it's kind of like a where's Waldo search. 😂 There were so many creatures that I didn't realize were in existence or that I knew of but didn't think of them as camouflaging until I saw them in their natural environments. I really loved the little bits of information that told you about each one of the animals and their camouflage habits as well as whether or not they're poisonous, where you can find them and many other wonderful gems. It truly is a great book filled to the brim with God's beautiful creations. It would make a great coffee table book, but it would also make a great gift for any reader who appreciates the world around them because it's so informative and beautiful. And I really appreciate the way that the book is laid out because the text is separated from the photo so it doesn't stand in the way of the beauty of each photo. Definitely worth the read and the time. I highly recommend it for any animal lover as well.

Thank you #netgalley for allowing me the chance to review this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review. #camouflage

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Camouflage: Nature’s Masters of Disguise explores the talent for disguise possessed by many different animal species and is written by award-winning science author Steve Parker who holds a degree in Zoology and works as a Senior Scientific Fellow at the Zoological Society of London. In essence, it asks What is camouflage? Why do animals use it? How has camouflage come about, and how can animals make it more effective? You will learn why it is that certain creatures have fur, feathers and features designed to look like the plants, rocks and habitats they live near or inhabit. In this superb book, readers are introduced to some of the stealthiest, most astonishingly camouflaged animals in the natural world and asked to seek out these sneaky animals hiding in plain sight.

Some animals defend against predators by fighting toe to toe. Others rely upon armour and other physical defences. However, sometimes the best defence of all is to stay out of sight. Camouflage is when an animal's colouring makes it hard for other organisms to tell where they are, what they are or where they're moving. This helps keep the animals safe from predators or helps them sneak up on their prey. You will learn all about animal camouflage, from species that simply blend into the background to others that mimic more dangerous animals. You will also discover how these species have developed their camouflage over time and how even powerful predators sometimes rely upon this useful ability.

It showcases a dazzling array of animals with extraordinary abilities to use this clever disguise to avoid being seen or to make them appear something they're not, such as something nasty to eat. With each chapter devoted to a continent, we are taken on a journey through masquerading mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and insects surviving in that part of the globe with digestible and informative chunks of text accompanied by vivid full-colour photographs. The title takes a fresh look at the animal kingdom and explores 100 of nature's best-hidden creatures including the Hellbender from North America, the Leaf Katydid from Central/South America, the Iberian Lynx from Europe, the Orange-Winged Cicada from Africa, the Flower Mantis from Asia, the Thorny Devil from Australasia and the Broadclub Cuttlefish that inhabit our vast Seas and Oceans. A fascinating, accessible and interesting read. Highly recommended.

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I love the front cover of the tiger it really draws you to the book. My favourite part of the book was learning about the snowy owls and the great grey owl. There are lots of different pictures of animals and insects which are beautiful to look at. There was some animals I had not heard of and there is some really useful and interesting information about the animals.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.

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Appealing and informative photo book about creatures that camouflage. With 100 photos of animals, fish, insects and birds it is instantly engaging. The book is broken down by continents with an extra section for seas and oceans. In many of the photos is was hard to find the animal. I was surprised to see giraffes as I'm use them standing out at zoos. But my daughter, who did a study abroad in Africa, assured me they are hard to see in their environment.

I was surprised at the amount of information that accompanies each animal and especially liked the small maps showing where they can be found. I also liked the bullet points giving common name, scientific name, size, habitats, diet and conservation status. I can see purchasing this for my school library as my students love these kinds of books. The smaller print would make it for older readers or for an adult to share with a child. And of course it can be a great coffee table books as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a temporary ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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This book is very detailed, with great pictures. There were lots of animals I'd never heard of. It's an enjoyable and educational read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Pros: The photographs in this book are beautiful and fascinating. It took me a bit of time to find the animals in some of the photographs—especially the photographs of the satanic leaf-tailed gecko, the leaf katydid, the comma, and the orchid mantis among leaves/flowers that look exactly like the animals. Owls are my favorite animal, so I love that many species of owl were included in this book. In addition to the fantastic photography, this book offers a wealth of information that is accessible to all ages. I can see kids and adults alike enjoying this book and think it would be great for kids and adults to read together and discuss, specifically on the topic of endangered animals and how their camouflage helps them survive. One of my favorite features in this book were the maps, and I appreciated that many different regions of the world were included. I also loved the bullet pointed fast facts. This book can be flipped through to just enjoy the photographs or read in depth and would make a wonderful reference book or even coffee table book.

Cons: The only con I can think of is that this book was difficult to read on my phone. However, I think it will be wonderful to read a print copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books, Ivy Press for the opportunity to read this book.

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Breathtaking! Broadly arranged by geographic region, a huge variety of animals, from insects to large land predators, are featured in interesting articles and gorgeous, detailed photographs.

This would be a great addition to school and classroom libraries, from middle grades through high school. It's also perfectly suitable and interesting for adult nature buffs as well.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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