Deception, disguises, lures, and decoys appear to be the name of the game when it comes to species survival. For many creatures,survival tactics amount to little more than a series of vanishing acts-the ability to confuse the eye of preclator or prey in an effort to simply disappear.

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In this astonishina new book i leaendarv wild life photographer Art Wolfe turns to of nature's most fun damental survival techniaues: the vanishing act.His portraits showanimals and insects disappearing into their surroundings, using deceptions, disguises, lures,an decoys to confuse the eye of both predator and prey.

In a world where nothing is as it appears to be,a lion blends into the tall grass in the late-afternoon sun;a harp seal disappears against his snowy backdrop. Pastel orchids can suddenly morph into predatory praying mantises:lizard heads become tails. What at first appears to be a torn and decomposing leaf on a forest floor in Peru suddenly sprouts legs and starts walking: it is a leaf-mimic katydid. Spotting each cryptic animal amid Walfe's clever compositions is both a fun and an informative challenge.

At a time when many species are preform ing permanent vanishing acts due to habitat loss and human encroachment, this book showcases the beauty and evolutionary extremes of ammal behavior and artfully illustrates tenacious will to stay alive in an eat-or-be-eaten world.

Preface

Art Wolfe

Introduction

Barbara Sleeper

Plates

Commentary