biostudies-literatureCuthill ICBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council489-96https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2674087biostudies-literatureUnknown364(1516)Even if an animal matches its surroundings perfectly in colour and texture, any mismatch between the spatial phase of its pattern and that of the background, or shadow created by its three-dimensional relief, is potentially revealing. Nevertheless, for camouflage to be fully broken, the shape must be recognizable. Disruptive coloration acts against object recognition by the use of high-contrast internal colour boundaries to break up shape and form. As well as the general outline, characteristic features such as eyes and limbs must also be concealed; this can be achieved by having the colour patterns on different, but adjacent, body parts aligned to match each other (i.e. in phase). Such 'coincident disruptive coloration' ensures that there is no phase disjunction where body parts meet, andPhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciencesCoincident disruptive coloration.PMC2674087BB/E02100X/1Cuthill ICSzekely AfalseCoincident disruptive coloration.Even if an animal matches its surroundings perfectly in colour and texture, any mismatch between the spatial phase of its pattern and that of the background, or shadow created by its three-dimensional relief, is potentially revealing. Nevertheless, for camouflage to be fully broken, the shape must be recognizable. Disruptive coloration acts against object recognition by the use of high-contrast internal colour boundaries to break up shape and form. As well as the general outline, characteristic features such as eyes and limbs must also be concealed; this can be achieved by having the colour patterns on different, but adjacent, body parts aligned to match each other (i.e. in phase). Such 'coincident disruptive coloration' ensures that there is no phase disjunction where body parts meet, and2009-01-01T00:00:00Z2009 Feb2025-04-22T21:52:46.173Z2019-03-27T00:22:02ZS-EPMC26740871899066810.1098/rstb.2008.0266