Leaf Insect — A Leaf with Legs
Leaf insects · family Phylliidae
A flattened body and leaf-like legs make an insect resemble part of a plant.
Camouflage / 1916 · historical design
Camouflage Tree — An Observation Post in Disguise
A manufactured observation post is made to look like an ordinary tree.
TRY THIS
Compare the tree-shaped exterior with the small technical drawing on the left. Look for the contrast between an apparent trunk and its constructed purpose.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
History, evidence & image credit
THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE
André Mare
Original file & attribution · Public domain
This locally stored image is a Wikimedia Commons rendition (resized or rendered from the source file). The full original is linked from the source record. Gallery previews may be resized or converted to WebP; animated previews show the first frame.
Download imageFrequently asked questions
What is Camouflage Tree — An Observation Post in Disguise?
A manufactured observation post is made to look like an ordinary tree.
What should I look for in Camouflage Tree — An Observation Post in Disguise?
Compare the tree-shaped exterior with the small technical drawing on the left. Look for the contrast between an apparent trunk and its constructed purpose.
What explains Camouflage Tree — An Observation Post in Disguise?
This works through misidentification. The object may be visible, but its tree-like exterior encourages an observer to classify it as part of the landscape. It is a human counterpart to a leaf insect or a plant that resembles a stone.
Another way to see it
Explore this category
Peppered Moth — Disappearing into Bark
Biston betularia
Speckled wings repeat the tones and texture of tree bark.
Arctic Fox — A Coat for the Season
Vulpes lagopus
A winter coat makes a white fox difficult to separate from snow.