Camouflage
The shell of the common Garden snail, Cornu aspersum, contains pigment-containing cells known as chromatophores. A physiological colour change can be initiated in these cells to allow the animal to change its colour to match its surroundings and so provide protective camouflage. The mechanism is similar to that found in cephalopods such as cuttlefish and octopus, although the snail is much slower to produce the colour change than these other molluscs.
For Looking Close on Friday theme 'Orange'.
Sorry, I wanted to post this on April 1 but that would have missed the theme.
No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph.
Camouflage
The shell of the common Garden snail, Cornu aspersum, contains pigment-containing cells known as chromatophores. A physiological colour change can be initiated in these cells to allow the animal to change its colour to match its surroundings and so provide protective camouflage. The mechanism is similar to that found in cephalopods such as cuttlefish and octopus, although the snail is much slower to produce the colour change than these other molluscs.
For Looking Close on Friday theme 'Orange'.
Sorry, I wanted to post this on April 1 but that would have missed the theme.
No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph.