Cryptic (zoology)

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

This page is about animals that hide or use camouflage. For animals whose existence is in doubt, see cryptozoology).

In zoology, a cryptic animal is one that is difficult to observe. This may be due to camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, or mimicry. Cryptic animals include the tuatara (hides in burrows all day; nocturnal), some jellyfish (transparent), and the flounder (covers itself in sediment).

Zoologists need special methods to study cryptic animals including biotelemetry techniques such as radio tracking, mark and recapture, and enclosures or exclosures.

Cryptic animals tend to be overlooked in studies of biodiversity and ecological risk assessment.

--Angel 15:32, 28 May 2006 (CDT)