Color Changing Animals

The most famous celebrity in the 'camouflage' world.
(Credit: Michel C Milinkovitch)

The ability of some animals that can change their colors whether in dealing with danger or under certain circumstances always catches our intentions. This will helps us to understand more about the nature and even something that can benefits us in the future.

In fact there are many species of animals that has this ability from different groups of families – perhaps some animals more popular than the other. Apart from just changing colors, animal such as cuttlefish (cephalopods) go beyond by changing their physical too. Let us take a closer looks the colors changes behavior across different animals.

The speed of the color changes in these animals are different from few seconds to few weeks; cephalopods family known as the fastest color changer in the animal kingdom. While chameleon will take longer time to change their color. In contrast animals such as ‘ptarmigan’ or ‘snowshoe hare’ will change their colors according to the seasons – with the cycle of the four seasons.

Thus changing colors and physical skills is one of the important characteristics possessed by many living things on earth. Even with different method, the act of converting this physical appearance is an important skill in life, especially for small and medium sized animals to help them to obtain food and avoiding enemies.

Here are few types of animals that can change color;

Chameleons – there are many types of chameleons that can live in the warm areas of Africa, Madagascar, South Europe, and South Africa to Sri Lanka. It varies with the species of small lizard that also can change their colors that know as ‘anoles’ – but in some countries peoples mistakenly thought them as chameleons.

Squid – squid together with the large families of cephalopod species; including octopus, squid and cuttlefish, changing color and resemble the surrounding environment are their specialist. The changes will take effect in very short time with stunning result. Cephalopods use these capabilities for hunting, camouflage and also for interaction between them.

Squid is the most skilled animal for changing color and physical.

Fish – there are types of fishes too that can change their color such as flounder and fish from group of ‘Acanthuridae’ that inhabit the coral reefs. Flounder hunt in shallow water and the ability to their change colors not just help them to hunt but actually to save them from their main predator; an eagles. 

Fish 'flounder' with similar environments.

Bird – not many birds can change their colors but ptarmigan will change their colors according to the seasons. Since ptarmigan not a migrating bird like most other species of birds, adaptation to their environment is very important. The different changes in their surrounding make them easy target for enemies if their colors not change.

Mammals – for some mammals such as snowshoe hare, Alaskan hare, Arctic hare and stoat change their colors as well as ptarmigan to resemble their environment of white winter. This change make is easier for them to hide from the enemies.

Snowshoe hare in winter.

Amphibians – some frogs also have the ability to change colors and the most known is the gray tree frog. Unlike any other frogs, the gray tree frog spent their time on the trees. It will be easier for them to be seen if their colors different from their surroundings.

Insects – apart from the animals mentioned above insects are also having the ability to change their colors. There are several species of spiders and beetles that can change their colors. Insect such as golden tortoise beetle can change their color according to the seasons or when disturbed.

The variety of colors 'golden tortoise beetle'.

So now we know there are many animals and insects that capable to change their colors and physicals for various purposes. If previously you only knew some of these animals know we know there are many of them that have these abilities in a wider scope. Although chameleon is the most popular in the world of changing colors, cephalopods families are still the champion in this competition.

Historic building, Malayan Railway Station

The uniqueness of the architecture on Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.

Malayan Railway Station’s building is one of the historic buildings in Kuala Lumpur, which is still used to this day. Built in 1910 has unique architectural features as well as other buildings built during the same time such as Sultan Abdul Samad Building. For this station Arthur Benison Hubback maintaining the Mughal architecture application in his design.

It costs RM23,000 and began operations on 1 August 1910. The station later became the main station with the demolition of the Resident Station and also the isolation of the Sultan Street’s Station. The building also includes a hotel, Station Hotel (now known as Heritage Station Hotel). The station is still operating despite Kuala Lumpur's main station has been moved to KL Sentral.

Main part of the building built over 100 years old.

KTM Administration Building, which is also very unique.

Even though it has spanned over a hundred years, the station continues to be upgraded to enable it to continue to provide services to the users of railway transport. Commuter Train services were first introduced at this station in 1995 with two main lines of Rawang - Seremban Line and Sentul - Port Klang Line.

To this day, this historic building is yet to be visited by the public and tourists not only because of its functions but also because of its unique architecture. It is one of the popular pictorial locations around Kuala Lumpur on par with other locations in the surrounding attractions such as Masjid Negara, Islamic Arts Museum and other places in Taman Tasik Perdana area.

Commuter rail service is also available at the station.

An improved platform for current demand.

Kuala Lumpur Station, past and present.

The Unique Life of Coconut Crab

Coconut Crab size can reach up to 1 meter.

Coconut crab (Cancer crumentus) also known as coconut thief, not living in the sea as well as red crabs, but live near the beach to make sure it is not too far from the source of water - the sea.

Coconut crabs are of the same type of a hermit crab where during young its needs other protection such as snails shells to keep them from being eaten by other predators. This is because the adult female crabs will release the eggs on the beach and in the sea where the crab’s young will spend time until they become adult and live on land as well. But the crabs should ensure their body moisture remains to prevent them from dying.

The area where the Coconut Crab can be found.

The most interesting about coconut crab is also an advantage to this species to any other crabs is the ability of climbing the coconut tree. That is why he was given the title of 'Coconut Thieves Crab'. This is because the coconut crab climbs the tree when the day began to cool down and when the day is getting dark. So if you're on the beach at night under a palm tree maybe you should not be afraid if there is something on the tree. It maybe a coconut crab is enjoying his favorite food - the coconut.

Coconut Crabs color varies from red to blue.

The coconut crab habitat is in the coastal of small islands in East Africa up to the South Pacific. Coconut crab considered as delicacy by human so it is less common in areas inhabited by humans. Due to the slow growth rate, the number is decreasing day by day.

Size of an adult coconut crab can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) from foot to foot with foot weight of 4.1 kg (9 lb). It also can achieve up to 60 years of age. If you recall sea animals such as giant clams that are also has a long life that can reach up to hundreds of years old.

Coconut crab and coconut that might be it's food.

Once the eggs are hatched at sea, crab larvae will live in shallow coastal areas about 3-4 weeks and then it will stay on the seabed using shells snails as protection. Crab reaches maturity when it’s reaching the age of 5 years old.

Given these, crabs require a long time to reach a maturity age and it takes few more years to reach suitable size to be eaten by human. It is not worth it, if it became a favorite food. Maybe people did not have much choice and the taste of crab meat is typical unless if it’s prepared with other ingredients and spices with suitable cooking methods.

Coconut crabs climb coconut trees.

Coconut crabs can still be found on certain Pacific Islands where today it is respected as one of the creatures that have the function to keep the balance of nature. What is important for us to recognize this unique crab that is not just live on the land but also can climb coconut trees that is impossible for the other crabs! Do you want to see this crab in their habitat someday?