Animals’ orange-and-black ‘Halloween’ colours


This video says about itself:

Incredibly Rare Siberian Tiger Release

GoPro Video of the Day – Sept. 20, 2013. Meet Zolushka the luckiest tiger in the world. This orphaned Siberian tigress was left to fend for herself when she was only a few months old — her mother likely killed by poachers. Less than 400 of these rare creatures exist in the wild – the survival of the species literally hangs in the balance with each individual animal. IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare worked with partners in far east Russia to rescue and rehabilitate this amazing animal. Watch as this incredibly rare tiger is released and returned to its wild habitat.

From eNature Blog in the USA:

Halloween Fashion: Lots Of Animals Wear Orange And Black This Time Of Year

Posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

It’s almost Halloween, the time for orange and black: orange-and-black costumes, orange-and-black decorations, even orange-and-black candies. People favor these colors because they’re a seasonal tradition—or perhaps because they’ve watched a certain prison drama on Netflix!

But what prompts some animals to cloak themselves in orange and black?

It’s Not Just For Tigers

Probably the best known orange-and-black creature is the tiger, several species of which still run wild in Asia (although there are likely more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than roam wild). Closer to home there are ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds that sport the same colors.

Of the birds, the Baltimore Oriole is most famous;a baseball team shares its name and colors; though three other species of North American orioles are mainly orange and black: the Altimira Oriole, the Bullock’s Oriole, and the Hooded Oriole.

The bright orange-and-black coloration of these birds (and the tigers) helps them stand out when they’re in the open and want to be seen. Yet the coloration also helps the animals blend into their natural surroundings when they want to hide. That’s because the orange-and-black pattern breaks up their outline in grasses and trees.

“Look At Me!”

Meanwhile some other species use orange to stand out from the crowd.. For insects such as milkweed bugs and Monarch butterflies, bold orange and black colors flash a warning to would-be predators: “Don’t eat me! I’m poisonous!”. Kind of like too much candy….

After Halloween, most orange-and-black animals disappear from the American scene for the winter, only to return next spring. The decorations and costumes, on the other hand, won’t return until next fall.

Have you seen any other creatures in Halloween colors this fall?

Feel free to share your sightings below!

5 thoughts on “Animals’ orange-and-black ‘Halloween’ colours

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