SPECTACULAR VISUAL EFFECTS
No green screen in sight , instead chameleons like the Parson ’ s chameleon ( Calumma parsonii ) have special cells in their skin called iridophore cells . Within these cells are tiny prism-shaped crystals of different shapes and sizes called nanocrystals . Chameleons can rearrange these nanocrystals to reflect different wavelengths of light . This creates a range of vivid colours , depending on their requirements . Who needs swimsuits covered in ping pong balls ? Not I .
BEST DRESSED
Never one to shy away from an after-show party , the rosy maple moth ( Dryocampa rubicunda ) knows what to wear and how to wear it . Stepping out in a combo of ice cream pink and sunshine yellow , and accessorising with a woolly body , these North American silk moths hope to trick predators into thinking they ’ re poisonous , when really they are just as sweet as they look .
QUIRKIEST COUPLE
And the octopuses are really cleaning up this year ! The Dynamic Duo Award goes to the blanket octopus ( Tremoctopus violaceus ). This couple is so quirky and cool . The statuesque female ( wearing a rainbow-hued gown that flows through the water ) can measure up to 2 metres in length , while her male partner is the size of … a walnut . Well , it works for them . As does yanking off a tentacle from a Portuguese man-of-war and using it to defend themselves against predators . Lit or what ?
MOST MISUNDERSTOOD
Ironically this creature ’ s reputation was RUINED by the film industry . Scream the ‘ S ’ word on any beach on the planet and a mass exodus will occur . However , while they are most definitely on the dangerous side , the great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ) is not a mindless killer . Studies have found that these predatory fish greet and communicate with one another , and have even been captured on film interacting gently with humans . Aaaww !
Words : Benita Estevez . Illustration : Kaley McKean
13