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Why would an animal want to look like a leaf or a twig?
To stay alive! Birds, lizards, monkeys, and even snakes can chow down on a grasshopper or caterpillar. But insects that can blend in with the background have an edge that helps keep them alive.
Both camouflage and mimicry help insects avoid being eaten. A camouflaged insect has coloring that matches its background. That makes it hard for a predator to see it. Mimicking insects copy a dangerous animal. They might imitate shape, coloring, sound, and even movement. This confuses potential predators, who mistake them for dangerous creatures and stay away.
