In the animal kingdom, there are many species that give birth to spotted young, from deer to birds and fish. Even species that we don’t typically link with spots, such as lions, wear the pattern as babies, only to lose it later in life.
But what purpose do these spots serve, and why do only some species seem to have them? Kiyoko Gotanda, a biologist at Brock University, said it is likely so common because it functions as excellent camouflage.
For example, spotted young tend to be more common in species that live in habitats with some high grass or forests, and less common in environments that are plain, like pack ice. Indeed, baby seals (海豹) born on pack ice are pure white, and develop spots only when they leave the ice for rocky beaches because spots are easy to be seen on pack ice, which may get them into difficulties.
In other rarer cases, spots actually help babies stand out. Young garibaldi, a fish found in California — have bright-blue spots that advertise their low social positions. As the fish grow and start to engage in the social ranking order, their spots disappear.
Other species may lose their spots as they age because their color goes on to serve another purpose. Lions are born with many spots, yet the spots mostly disappear in adulthood. Males, in particular, trade their spots for thick hair, which can help them attract female ones. Reproducing, rather than hiding, becomes the main focus.
It’s unclear why an animal like a cheetah would maintain its spots while a lion doesn’t. Gotanda said it may come down to hunting practice. Lions hunt in groups, while cheetahs tend to hunt alone and rely more heavily on the smokescreen power of their spots to get near prey (猎物).
8. Which can best replace the underlined word “camouflage” in paragraph 2?
A.Guidance. | B.Reminder. | C.Attractant. | D.Protection. |
9. Which young animals use spots to mark their identity?
A.Cheetahs. | B.Seals. | C.Garibaldi. | D.Lions. |
10. Which statement might Gotanda agree with?
A.White spots need more energy to grow and maintain. |
B.The way of hunting may affect the existence of spots. |
C.Male lions tend to use spots to attract strong female ones. |
D.Spotted young animals often appear in featureless environments. |
11. What is mainly talked about in the text?
A.How spots help animals escape danger. |
B.Why so many baby animals have spots. |
C.Which kind of young animals have spots. |
D.What might happen to spotted young animals. |